Cecil Clarke cites COVID-19 in bid for re-election as CBRM mayor

Cape Breton Regional Municipality Mayor Cecil Clarke says he will seek re-election this fall, despite promising on election night four years ago that this would be his last term.

After his win in 2016, Clarke told reporters he planned to step aside after his current term ended, but he now says COVID-19 changed his mind.

Clarke told reporters Friday that CBRM needs experienced leadership, not change for the sake of change.

"What I can do right now is help this municipality move forward through this time of uncertainty," he said.

The mayor spoke to reporters on the dock at the Sydney Marine Terminal, with the newly built second cruise ship berth in the background.

Clarke championed the project, which was paid for equally by the municipality and the federal and provincial governments, and was expected to increase local tourism and jobs.

Second berth a symbol

It was a symbol of one of the mayor's accomplishments, but also a reminder the pandemic has severely impacted the economy.

"I'm standing here with the second berth behind me, a $20-million investment that is idled currently," Clarke said.

"People bought inventory. People were preparing to open new businesses. As a result of it, we've seen investments throughout the CBRM for excursions, so these are priority areas on the recovery side, working with our partners in the government and private sector. So we have a lot of work ahead of us, a lot of serious days ahead of us, and it's something that I'm looking at taking on."

Clarke said despite his 2016 election night promise to quit after this term, people asked him to stay on.

He said one of those was his husband.

But Clarke also said running for the provincial PC Party leadership in 2018 also gave him a new perspective on CBRM.

He said the municipality has plenty of reasons to celebrate, but it also has challenges that require steady guidance.

Pandemic recovery will take years

"Are we better off today than four years ago?" Clarke said. "As a community, a municipality, yes, but in terms of COVID-19, the severity of the situation is one none of us take lightly and recovery is going to take years to come through."

On election night four years ago, Clarke said he was ready for a life outside of politics, having already served 10 years as an MLA and facing eight years as mayor.

"When I made that statement, we weren't in the middle of a global pandemic that's created crises in our community and uncertainty and now it's a matter of who's stepping up for the leadership to move through this and I have the foundation and base and family support behind me to allow me to get through the next number of years," he told reporters on Friday.

Clarke said his accomplishments include "unprecedented levels" of infrastructure funding and private sector development at the Sydport Industrial Park and the former Archibald's Wharf.

He also cited renovations at the Miners Forum in Glace Bay and a new police station there.

The mayor did not specifically refer to the proposed container terminal project in Sydney Harbour, but said his hopes for more port development had been hampered by "global conditions."

Clarke said his platform would be released later, but said the municipality needs to address social issues and one way to do that is to focus on the economy.

In 2016, he promised a new $26-million library and it's still on his to-do list.

New library coming: Clarke

Clarke said he expects the project will move to the design stage after a study on operational costs is finished later this year and it will join the list of infrastructure projects already finished or underway now.

"We've done so many that now the library is the largest new public build the CBRM will have in the next term," he said.

Because of the pandemic, municipal election campaigning will look different, Clarke said. He described it as being very visual, using social media and recycled lawn signs.

"We're all trying to find our way forward as the first election process in Nova Scotia" since COVID-19 hit, he said.

"Everyone's saying how do we do this effectively? How do we reach out? How are we accessible? And we're looking at how you have smaller gatherings, but more frequent occasions in more areas that will allow people to come on a socially distanced basis to do that."

Clarke will face some competition for the job, as CBRM Coun. Amanda MacDougall announced last week that she will seek the mayor's seat.  CBRM residents Archie MacKinnon and Chris Abbass are also in the running for the mayor's job.

Asked about McDougall, who occasionally clashed with Clarke on council issues, the mayor said he is looking forward to the contest.

"With any effective government, you have to have good opposition," said Clarke.

"You have to be challenged. That is not a negative. There's different times you have to be asked why are you standing the ground on these issues?"

Vote set for Oct. 17

Nominations in CBRM open Aug.27 and will become official Sept. 8. The municipal election is set to go ahead on Oct. 17 with advance polls opening on Oct. 7.

Clarke was first elected mayor in 2012 and re-elected in 2016. 

He has also served on the province's executive council. He was speaker of the Nova Scotia House of Assembly and government House leader. He served as Minister of Economic Development, Minister of Energy, Minister of Justice and attorney general.

Clarke also ran a failed leadership bid to head the province's Progressive Conservative Party back in 2018.

And he dipped his toe into federal politics in 1997 running for the Conservatives in the riding of Sydney-Victoria, a race he ultimately lost. Clarke tried for the same seat again in 2011, and ended up losing out to Liberal incumbent Mark Eyking.

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