News Release
June 30, 2010

For Immediate Release

This election will be a referendum on the last four years of Larry O’Brien’s performance at City Hall

OTTAWA – Earlier today, Ottawa Mayor Larry O’Brien indicated his intention to seek re-election in this October’s municipal election.

Former Mayor and Mayoralty candidate Jim Watson today released the following statement:

“I want to welcome Larry O’Brien to the mayoral race today. This election will be a referendum on his performance as mayor over the last four years.”

“I look forward to Larry O’Brien explaining his handling of the challenges our city has faced over the past four years.”

These challenges include:

• Total residential property tax increases of 14 per cent over four years, twice the rate of inflation and a far cry from “zero means zero”
• $5.9 million lost during a 51-day bus strike, the longest in Ottawa’s history
• Record amounts of raw sewage entering the Ottawa river
• A light rail project that has increased by 50 per cent, from $1.4 billion to $2.1 billion
• Wasting $100 million for cancelling the north-south light rail contract, by voting for it then voting against it
• Increased his own salary by $32,000 as his first act in office

“This campaign will be about leadership. City hall needs a leader that strives to bring people of different backgrounds and points-of-view together for the greater good of our community,” Watson said.

“On October 25th, the taxpayers of Ottawa will answer this single question, ‘Do you want another four years of chaos and confusion like we have withstood over the past four years?’”