London’s present deputy mayor and Ward 7 councillor is throwing his hat into the ring to develop into the subsequent mayor.
On Thursday, the 44-year-old father of 4 formally registered as a candidate.
“This council has an important observe file,” Morgan instructed the media after submitting his paperwork with the clerk’s workplace. “Not solely have we [made] historic investments in housing, not solely have we dedicated to a roadmap to three,000 extra inexpensive [housing] items, we handed the Local weather Emergency Motion Plan, and we've taken important steps to deal with anti-racism and fairness.”
After seven years on council, CTV Information requested Morgan if he’s working on a ‘extra of the identical’ platform.
He responded, “I believe you need to look past one time period of council. While you take a look at the issues we’ve began, [they] completely, positively have to be accomplished.”
Morgan hints that his platform may also deal with housing affordability, downtown revitalization and strengthening the voice of Londoners in native determination making.
“You will note new initiatives, that I'm not going to disclose at this time, centred round how individuals can contribute to shaping and bettering the neighbourhoods across the metropolis,” he mentioned.
Requested instantly about a few of his voting historical past that drew criticism from council colleagues or the general public, Morgan prompt it’s to be anticipated serving two phrases as a metropolis councillor.
“I’ve definitely constructed bridges with people who've mentioned to me ‘I didn’t like your vote on this’— however they’re proud of among the different issues we’re doing. Londoners don’t all the time agree, and one of many nice issues about politics is we've debate and dialogue,” Morgan mentioned.
Particularly, he lately backed a land deal aimed toward relieving overcrowding at Sir Arthur Currie Public Faculty in his ward.
Critics argued the deal sidestepped insurance policies in The London Plan supposed to make sure orderly growth close to the town’s periphery and curb sprawl.
“You may assist an official plan and now have amendments to it,” Morgan responded. “The context within the Metropolis of London may be very completely different from after we first handed the official plan. Not solely are we the quickest rising financial system and quickest rising metropolis in Ontario, we’ve gone by a pandemic.”
In 2019 he voted towards the west route of the bus speedy transit system, and as an administrative worker of Western College, declared a battle of curiosity concerning the north route.
Morgan wouldn’t say if northwest London now requires speedy transit routes, as an alternative pointing to approaching work to develop metropolis corridor’s Mobility Grasp Plan.
“There are adjustments that must be made, and I'm not going to leap forward and counsel that I do know what these [changes] are after we’ve began a complete course of to find out that,” he mentioned.
Morgan was joined at his information convention by former metropolis supervisor Martin Hayward.
“He’s very a lot a consensus builder, a crew chief,” praised Hayward who retired after a 35-year profession with metropolis corridor.
It’s the primary time Hayward has voiced assist for a candidate.
“He [Morgan] does his homework. I can’t inform you what number of occasions after I was [city] treasurer he got here in to query me about advanced points simply to have an understanding so he may make an knowledgeable determination at council.”
Morgan was hand-picked by Mayor Ed Holder to be his deputy mayor for the second half of this council time period.
On Tuesday, Holder introduced he was retiring from politics this fall.
Morgan is the second candidate to register for the mayoral race.
Sean O’Connell filed on Might 2.
Londoners go to the polls on October 24.
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