Age won’t keep mayor from seeking re-election

BY VICKI GILHULA

Mayor John Rodriguez is in his seventh decade, but he fully expects to run for re-election in 2010.

He told a roomful of people - who paid $100 each to help pay off his 2006 election debt - Tuesday night that his political mentor is Mississauga Mayor Hazel McCallion. She is 87 and has been mayor of that city for almost 30 years.

Rodriguez had tried unsuccessfully to keep his job as vice-principal with the Sudbury Catholic District School Board when he turned 65.

The fundraising, or rather debt-reduction, dinner for the mayor was held at the Steelworkers’ Hall.

The guest speaker for the evening was Rodriguez’s longtime friend Leo Gerard, who is the international president of United Steelworkers of America.

Gerard took the opportunity to pitch an idea to community, education and business leaders.

In addition to being a centre for mining excellence, Sudbury should become a centre of excellence for health and safety, he said. “A place where people from around the world come to learn about occupational safety.”

“Every health and safety advance (in the Canadian workplace) happened in Sudbury or Elliot Lake,” said Gerard.

During his speech, Rodriguez outlined some of the achievements during his first year in office.

He said one of his first acts in office was to put “an end to two divisive” issues.  Shortly after moving into his office on the fourth floor at city hall, he ordered the Ontario Francophone flag to be flown at Tom Davies Square. He also used his executive power as mayor to keep stores closed on Boxing Day.