'I know how city hall works,' Al McDonald

Al McDonald is no stranger to City Hall or politics having served as deputy mayor, MPP, and president of the local chamber of commerce and experience is one of the key themes he focused on Thursday as he officially kicked off his campaign for mayor. He also touched on leadership, commitment and vision during a speech with his supporters at campaign headquarters on Fisher Street.

“Well I served as deputy mayor, I've been the president of the chamber of commerce, I served as the MPP and parliamentary assistant to the minister of enterprise so I have all of that experience,” he explains.

“I know how Queen's Park works, I know how city hall works, I know how the different levels of government have to get along to be able to achieve what we really need as a city to move forward. So I think what I bring to the table is the fact that I can work very well with parties on opposite sides of the isles of the spectrum.”

“I get along with them and I still have a lot of contacts at Queen's Park, I have a lot of contacts with the federal government so I will work all of those contacts. But I think what you are going to see basically is an individual that will build consensus with the different levels of government so that we can achieve and move forward with a lot of the projects that we want to move forward.”

And looking around the room it was easy to see that McDonald wasn't just talking the talk but he is walking the walk as his supporters featured individuals from different political factions including well-known Liberal supporter Peter Gavin and Conservative supporter Barb Minogue.

McDonald told the group he missed serving the community and public life, but the decision to run for mayor was not one made in haste. First he consulted with his partner Wendy Abdallah (Pictured) and with her endorsement he spent the last year putting things in place to reach this point.

“I've put a platform together and I've used that time wisely and built a great team, an awesome team, and we're ready to go.”

McDonald intends to roll out his platform over the coming weeks but highlighted a number of the messages that stand out for him right now.

"The mayor has to be a full-time mayor and he needs to have experience and he needs to know how government works,” he tells the media.

“And I've had experience at Queen's Park and I've had experience at City Hall and you need that commitment. You need that individual that will be willing to work hard for his community and take the fight wherever the fight needs to be made, but also has to be compassionate, he has to listen to citizens and make important decisions. If you can put that full package together than I think we will be very well served in the City of North Bay.”

However, he was quick to point out he won't be making old fashioned campaign style promises especially when it comes to economic development instead he wants to develop clear achievable goals that he says will move the city forward.

“It's very easy to say you are going to bring jobs here and that's the easiest thing to say so I'm not going to say that.”

“I think what we have to do is create that environment so that business will want to come here. And with my experience of being in business, being president of the chamber of commerce, and sitting on the economic development committee I'm going to reach out to all the industries and businesses out there that have the expertise. And basically have quarterly summits with them to see what their issues are, who their contacts are, and how we might be able to one maybe expand their operations here or suppliers that they deal with that might be able to move here as well.”

He notes that economic development isn't the only challenge he sees the city facing in the coming years.

"Well I think we have to protect our parks and our green spaces, jobs … and taxes ... taxes are always an issue so those are probably the top three or four that I can think of right off the bat.”

When asked if the tax priority will see him work towards a zero increase for the city, again McDonald said no false promises.

"Well it is easy to make all kinds of promises what I will say is I will respect every tax dollar that the city receives and it will be spent extremely wisely."

The other hurdle he faces in the race for mayor is stepping back from the day to day operation of his beloved hockey organization but says he is confident in the team he has put together for the Lakers Hockey Team.

"We have a great staff in place and they've known this was coming for a while. And I have every confidence in the world with Al Carfagnini and Vito and Gary and Lindsay to carry on what we've put in place.”

As for bringing an OHL team to town if he is mayor … well he says the door is wide open to the idea.

“As you know an OHL club is 5 to 7 million dollars that's a lot of money and we are a small market team.”

“I'd love to see an OHL club in North Bay, but realistically it is something that a business owner will want to have to move the club here. Would we be willing to sit down with them absolutely I think the community would support all three brands of hockey.”

Retired teacher Richard Falconi tossed his hat into the ring Thursday making it a three-way race for mayor in North Bay, and McDonald says he can't sit back he knows all to well that every vote counts.

“You can never take elections for granted and the voters want to hear what you stand for and what you believe in and what you will do for them. So I'm going to take the next 45 to 50 days to explain what I'm all about (to) the individuals who don't know me and explain my platform.”

“But also to listen to what their ideas (are) as well so a campaign isn't just about what I'm thinking it's about what the voters are thinking as well.”

City resident Harvey Villneff filed his nomination papers earlier this week.