Monday, September 28, 2009

Former Winnipeg mayor eyes Toronto job

Former Winnipeg mayor Glen Murray is considering a run to replace David Miller as Toronto mayor.

Shirley Muir, Murray's former spokesman in Winnipeg, confirmed he has been fielding "a lot" of calls asking him to run, and said he is considering it.

"He's obviously pleased with the inquiries, he takes them very seriously," Muir said. "But he's not made any decision yet."

Murray is currently serving as the president and CEO of the Canadian Urban Institute a national non-partisan urban policy institute.

Murray served as Winnipeg's mayor from 1998 to 2004, when he left office mid-term to run as a Liberal in the 2004 federal election. He lost to the Conservative candidate, and shortly thereafter moved to Toronto.

Murray, who was born in Montreal, was the first openly gay mayor of a large North American city and is credited with reducing Winnipeg's property taxes 8.4% while in office. He also halved that city's debt and improved Winnipeg's credit rating three scores.

After losing in the 2004 federal election, then-prime minister Paul Martin appointed Murray as chair of the National Round Table on the Environment and Economy.

He also lectures at the University of Toronto and sits on Premier Dalton McGuinty's climate change advisory panel.

http://www.torontosun.com/news/torontoandgta/2009/09/28/11167686.html

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