Scanned, recopied or Internet copy, if there are errors, please e-mail me with corrections: Opening comments: More at the end. Some original errors left in, as is. Mississauga News Oct. 19, 1988, Wed - by unknown - Front page.
After meeting with a prominent city, lawyer yesterday morning, and, pondering the advice of friends and advisers, 24-year-old Stephen Morgan has decided not to challenge Hazel McCallion for the mayor's chair. Morgan appeared at the City clerk's department just minutes before the 5 p.m. deadline yesterday and withdrew his mayoral nomination. In an interview immediately afterward, the self-employed graphic artist said “I really regret pulling out, but it. seems to be the best way. “It was a case of knowing what I wanted to do and having an honorable goal, but the next day finding out that I might not be able to accomplish it,” said the Delfi Rd. resident who admitted that the decision to withdraw was very emotional for him. Yesterday morning, Morgan had “an eye-opening meeting with a friend and supporter of the mayor” he said in a prepared statement. In that meeting, lawyer John Keyser, a partner in a major city centre law firm, talked to him about the difficulties of running for and holding office, Morgan said. Although Keyser, chairman of the City's committee of adjustment, made it clear he was speaking on his own behalf and offering fatherly advice, Morgan says, “I feel I was being advised not to run.” Keyser could not be reached for comment last night. Morgan left the meeting as determined as ever to run, says the lifelong Mississaugan. But after See MEETING. page 2 Meeting Continued from page 1 further consideration, he made up his mind to withdraw. Morgan says he knows very little of the inner workings of city hall and would have a difficult time “breaking the set pattern” with other councillors, even if he managed a major upset and beat McCallion. The challenger said he still believes he made the correct decision to seek the nomination, although his original plan was to run for mayor in the next election in 1991. “I hope that I will be able to bring the issues to the public's attention through his announced candidacy says Morgan, who feels city hall is not communicating well enough about the the unprecedented level of new development. He says council is ignoring “quality of life” concerns. “I'm now going to try and work using the more traditional route and become more involved” in future, says the Sheridan College advertising graduate. If there had been a contest, Morgan says it would have taken McCallion away from running the City for a month, which is “not good for Mississauga.” His own campaign would have been based on limited resources, admitted Morgan, who had only two workers and planned to publish an election brochure but not to put up election signs. In an interview before he changed his mind, the single Erin Mills resident had said, “We do live in a democracy and we might just as well exercise it,” in explaining his desire to run. He also said he was in the campaign to win, but would be satisfied if McCallion outlined her plans the next three years. In closing his written statement yesterday, Morgan called again for the mayor to detail her plans despite her acclamation. “As for myself” wrote Morgan, "this is the beginning of my political career. I will be back in three years older, wiser, better informed, and financially back to run for office again.” [1] McCallion, who garnered her second acclamation since she was first elected mayor in 1978, could not be reached for comment. [2] Home Page - Main Table of Contents - Back up a page - Back to Top [COMMENTS BY DON B. - |
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