Cullen says he's running for mayor
http://www.ottawacitizen.com/Cullen+says+running+mayor/1456892/story.html
BY JAKE RUPERT , THE OTTAWA CITIZENAPRIL 2, 2009 2:25 PM
OTTAWA — The 2010 municipal election is 19 months away, but already the field running for mayor is rounding out.
Thursday, Bay Councillor Alex Cullen, a veteran local politician, announced he will be seeking the municipality’s top job. The announcement comes one day after Mayor Larry O’Brien’s intention to seek re-election became public.
Cullen said he’d made up his mind.
“I will be running for mayor,” he said. “Whenever the job comes open, I’ll be running.”
Cullen comments reflect O’Brien’s situation.
In the months following his November 2006 win over former mayor Bob Chiarelli and former city councillor Alex Munter, the Ontario Provincial Police began an investigation into allegations of attempted bribery and purported influence peddling against O’Brien.
Former mayoral candidate Terry Kilrea alleged O’Brien offered him money and help to get a job on the National Parole Board if he dropped out of the 2006 mayoral race.
Later, the police charged O’Brien with two criminal offences related to the bribery allegations, and his trial starts in May.
If O’Brien is acquitted, the mayor will be free to run for re-election, and the next election will be November 2006.
However, if O’Brien is convicted, provincial law demands his removal from office. If this happens, council can appoint an interim mayor to serve until the November 2010 election or it can hold a byelection.
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