By Matthew Harrison
Ottawa Mayor Jim Watson may have decided not to run for mayor this fall, but his political career might not be over just yet.
Rumours are circulating that Watson may run as a Progressive Conservative in Ottawa Centre in the next federal election.
“Jim’s certainly well known to most of us, he’s a high-profile guy and he’s somebody I’m sure we will approach,” says Steve Coupland, director of organization for the federal Progressive Conservative Party. “Jim and I have joked around, but we have not had a serious discussion yet.”
Asked whether the rumour of the switch to federal politics has any substance, Watson laughed and said, “It’s not an impossibility — in politics everything is possible.”
In reaction to the recent speculation, Watson says he’s been receiving dozens of calls from individuals offering to help him on his future campaign, although Watson says he’s declined their help at this point.
“I thanked those individuals and told them that I would cross that bridge when I come to it,” says Watson “Whether federal politics is in the cards for me — well, the short answer is, I don’t know.”
Watson says his decision not to run for mayor is not based on federal ambitions.
Watson has said one of the reasons he’s not running is that he’d rather concentrate on running the current city than campaigning for the new one.
“As to whether or not I’ll run federally in Ottawa, to be honest, I haven’t given it much thought. I still have a lot to consider as mayor, and a lot of work to do between now and November.”
Despite Watson’s denial, the federal Conservative Ottawa Centre constituency association welcomes the idea.
“It would be a wonderful thing,” says Maureen Knox, president of federal Conservative Ottawa Centre constituency association.
“I think he’s done a very good job as mayor,” says Knox. “He’s clearly earnest and interested in politics and that’s one of the primary requirements for a good candidate.”
Ottawa Centre Liberal MP Mac Harb said he doubted Watson would run.
“I would be very surprised. He is too politically astute to run in a riding where the Tories come third.”
But if he does, Harb said he is prepared for any opponent.
“Although I would prefer not to run against an old friend, it would be fun. I have a lot of respect for him.”
Other federal parties were hesitant to comment.
Tim Stutt, president of federal New Democratic Party’s Ottawa Centre constituency association, says he doesn’t want to comment.
“I don’t want to react to something that’s very much speculation right now — there’s still a lot of water to go under the bridge yet,” Stutt says.
The next federal election is expected next year.