Ward 11 candidate Kevin Lalonde has thrown his hat back in the ring.
Several weeks after dropping out over a Facebook post, Lalonde announced today he’s changed his mind and is rejoining the race.
Lalonde said after reflecting on his decision, he couldn’t “sit idly by and watch this ward go without proper representation,” firing a shot at his counterparts running in Ward 11.
A firm supporter of the Kingsway Entertainment District project, Lalonde said he feels so strongly about the project, he had to get back in the race to counter other Ward 11 candidates who are against the project.
“When I stepped away I thought for sure it would be ok, that there was at least two others with the devotion to see the KED come to fruition and attention to what's going on in the ward. I also waited to see what else they wanted to do in the ward and in this city,” he said. “I wanted to see them stand up and shout there agenda to the people of this ward and this city. I was hoping for the same level of commitment I was prepared myself to give. That never really materialized. Instead other than one other candidate it went completely silent in Ward 11 and that one other outspoken candidate was scaring me of the thought of the possibility.
The full text of Lalonde’s release is below
In the last couple of weeks after leaving active campaigning I became resigned to the premise that it would be better for ward 11 to have representation that didn't make stupid mistakes.
I felt like it wasn't a way I wanted to honor outgoing councillor Reynolds. I truly felt horrible. However since then it's been getting increasingly hard to sit on the sidelines and watch this process move on without me.
My character doesn't allow me to be silent. It won't allow me to sit idly by and watch this ward go without proper representation. When I stepped away I thought for sure it would be ok, that there was at least 2 others with the devotion to see the KED come to fruition and attention to what's going on in the ward, I also waited to see what else they wanted to do in the ward and in this city.
I wanted to see them stand up and shout there agenda to the people of this ward and this city. I was hoping for the same level of commitment I was prepared myself to give. That never really materialized. Instead other than one other candidate it went completely silent in Ward 11 and that one other outspoken candidate was scaring me of the thought of the possibility.
In recent days I was again scared of another possibility that a candidate who has been against the KED from the beginning has now become a supporter for the sole purpose of garnering votes. Scary enough this just might work. So with the fact that this ward will still not have the representation of a candidate that is worthy to step up to the plate and be outspoken above all else, I will be re-entering this race while I still can.
Behind the eight ball in the final stretch of this election might never get me elected to represent the fine people of ward 11, doesn't mean I won't try for it. I still believe I am the right person to represent this ward. With me you are going to get an opinionated, out spoken councillor who might make the occasional stupid mistake, but unmistakably the strongest voice to represent ward 11 constituents out of them all.
Now it's time to get Facebook.com/KevinLalondeWard11 back online.
Sincerely
Kevin Lalonde
