REGINA – Ward Four Councillor Lori Bresciani is indeed running in Regina’s municipal election — for the top job.
Bresciani ended weeks of speculation about her participation in the 2024 municipal election race by launching her campaign Tuesday to become Mayor of Regina at a media event at the Conexus Arts Centre.
In doing so the two-term councillor, who had run unopposed in Ward Four in 2020, becomes the fifth and possibly most prominent name to challenge incumbent Mayor Sandra Masters in the municipal election scheduled for Nov. 13.
Bresciani’s campaign slogan is “Refocus Regina,” promising a change “from nonsense to common sense.” According to her campaign brochure she is running on a platform calling for financial accountability, improving core services and public safety.
When asked by reporters why she decided to run for mayor this time instead of council, Bresciani said that “in reflection of this last four years I would say there’s some things I wanted to do differently. And I would talk more about the debt and money and the financial piece around our city. I think that something that’s vitally important to people. And I am only one vote on council, and so when you’re one vote it’s very tough to make any kinds of decisions around anything around funding or anything like that.”
In her speech she pointed to the debt as a concern, pointing to her opposition to an increase to the debt limit. She also was critical of the “Experience Regina”rebranding fiasco and wanted to see a positive image presented of the city.
One of the major issues in the election is expected to be the major “catalyst” projects for the city. Regina potentially has several major projects coming including a new aquatic centre, a new central library and new arena, among others. When asked what projects she supports Bresciani said she supported a pool, but noted in the last month, “there has been some new information that has said we don’t have to replace the Lawson.”
“I do believe we have to have a pool. But the funding with inflation and construction costs have got so high. When we started, the pool was supposed to be $160 million. Right now we know it’s over $240-250 million. At the end of the day we have to be conscious of what these things are going to cost. So do we look at the pool, and do we look at a different option, different plans for a pool… I’ve said this at council, I don’t think we need to build the Taj Mahal but we do need a pool.”
As for a proposed project new central library, Bresciani said the “concern I had with the library is I don’t believe we should actually be taking it out on debt. I want any project that comes forth, whether it be an arena, whether it be any of those projects, come forth with partnerships and funding from other levels in government… it just can’t always fall on our taxpayers to increase our debt limit. It’s unfair.”
Bresciani was also asked about potential conflicts of interest with her son’s development business. She told reporters that as councillor she has recused herself from those discussions, and also from those discussions where there was any appearance of conflict, and would continue to do so as mayor.
Bresciani now has less than two months to get her name out to voters in what is not only a crowded municipal field, but also with a provincial election campaign happening during the same period. That provincial vote is expected on Oct. 28, just a couple of weeks before the municipal election.
When asked about how she would deal with that Bresciani responded “I hope people know me and spread the word,” but added there needed to be a change to the election dates.
“We need to move this date. I want to have more people come out and vote,” said Bresciani. She wanted to see the municipal election moved up “even if it’s by six months, just to give voters an opportunity to learn about their candidates, because that’s vitally important.”
Other candidates in the race for mayor include Bill Pratt, who announced his bid last week, as well as Brandon Abtosway, Kevin Kardash and Shawn Sparvier.