On the heels of the resignation of Mayor Kevin Davis, Coun. Dan McCreary announced Tuesday that he wants to be mayor.
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“We’re looking at a period of significant growth and assessment and I want to make sure the benefits of that extend to the people who live here,” McCreary said Tuesday afternoon.
While council has not officially announced a byelection, a city that’s been granted ‘strong mayor’ powers cannot simply appoint someone to finish the term as mayor but must call a byelection, said McCreary.
And councilors can opt to run for the position without jeopardy, as they can hold onto their seats representing various wards as they try for the top chair.
“I expect others will put their names forward,” said McCreary, adding that he had planned to run for mayor in 2026, regardless.
Davis is leaving the job after six years in order to make a provincial appointment to the License Appeal Tribunal.
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McCreary is known as a fiscal conservative and has been the Ward 3 councilor since 2003. Right now he’s chair of the city’s finance committee but has led many other committees over the years.
McCreary said he’s very supportive of arts and culture, along with local sports teams that offer economic and cultural impacts locally.
He declined to get into much about the differences between himself and the current mayor, saying they are friends, but agreed they have different viewpoints on some issues.
McCreary said he wants the city to “take the lead” in discussions about a new hospital and get involved in the Brantford Bulldogs OHL team and other potential sports initiatives.
“But our contention is that it not be the city of Brantford taxpayers left with the bill.”
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The councilor said in his ward work he’s learned that people want to be heard and he said he welcomes a “debate of ideas.”
“I have no qualms about adopting other people’s ideas. My intention is to do a listening tour during the campaign and another if I’m elected to hear ideas, complaints, concerns and suggestions.”
Allowing people to be fully heard, he hopes, will ease some of the anger that’s been spilling over.
“I’ve been quiet about some of the commentary I’ve received,” McCreary said, “but I can deal with it. I think people who are angry generally feel they haven’t been properly consulted.
McCreary was born in Brantford and attended Pauline Johnson Collegiate and the University of Toronto.
McCreary and his wife, Lorie, have two children and three grandparents.
@EXPSGamble
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