Mayor-elect Scott Gillingham had his first meeting with incumbent Winnipeg Mayor Brian Bowman on Friday afternoon following Gilingham’s victory in Wednesday’s hotly contested municipal election.
The two held a private meeting in Bowman’s office at City Hall to discuss the transition to a new administration.
“First of all, I want to sincerely congratulate Mayor-elect Scott Gillingham – quite the campaign. I know it’s quite the ride,” Bowman said in a brief media scrum ahead of the meeting with Gillingham, who already served two terms as a city councillor.
“I had the opportunity to work with Mayor-Elect Gillingham for eight years. Winnipeggers and I have seen that he will bring the integrity and work ethic that deserves this role.
Bowman and Gillingham were first elected in 2014.
Gillingham thanked Bowman for his service as mayor and his friendship during their two terms. He highlighted Bowman’s accomplishments on major plans, including the City of Winnipeg’s Transit Master Plan, as well as Bowman’s work to advance reconciliation with Indigenous peoples.
“The work you have done to completely transform this city with reconciliation [was] very important,” Gillingham told Bowman.
“It’s an honor to step into your shoes and begin serving this city.”
Gillingham narrowly beat closest rival Glen Murray and nine other contenders in Wednesday’s mayoral race. Thursday, he met with Prime Minister Heather Stefanson.
After Friday’s meeting with Bowman, Gillingham said he discussed a number of ongoing issues his new administration will face, including the city’s ongoing lawsuit over the police headquarters construction project.
Financial matters are at the heart of Gillingham’s concerns as he prepares to take over City Hall, he said.
“We are still facing the financial pressures of the pandemic and inflation, so I need to inquire immediately with our … [chief financial officer] what is the state of the city’s finances as we come to the end of this year,” the mayor-elect said.
Nor did he have the opportunity to examine the details of the newly ratified agreement with the workers of Local 500 of the Canadian Union of Public Employeeshe said.
Gillingham did not say who would be on his transition team.
“My transition team is still being formed, and we are already working, but all those details will be released in due course,” he said.
The fact that all but one of the new board members have served on the board before will ease the transition, he said.
Only councilor-elect Evan Duncan in Charleswood-Tuxedo-Westwood has never served on council before.
Shawn Dobson, who won at St. James, and Russ Wyatt, who won at Transcona, return to the board after a hiatus. All other incumbents were re-elected.
Bowman’s term ends at noon Nov. 1. Gillingham and the 15 town councilors will be sworn in at a formal meeting later today.
“Coffeeaholic. Lifelong alcohol fanatic. Typical travel expert. Prone to fits of apathy. Internet trailblazer.”