Thunder Bay’s mayoral race now has a fourth runner.
Brian Kwasny, 52, said he decided to run for mayor because he doesn’t like the way city council has treated businesses trying to set up shop in the city. He cites Flying J and Costco as examples of businesses that were treated unfairly.
"I see the way the city of Thunder Bay discourages new business from locating to Thunder Bay and I didn’t like the way it was going," said Kwasny, a bus and truck driver.
While he has no direct political experience, Kwasny said he has a lot of political experience from his home life. Kwasny wanted to run for mayor instead of council because he wanted to make a "bigger impact". Kwasny said he’s optimistic and thinks he has a 75 per cent chance of unseating mayor Lynn Peterson. Kwasny said he would not have increased water and hydro rates if he were mayor.
"The citizens can’t afford that," Kwasny said.
Kwasny said he’s spoken with over 400 people since deciding to run for mayor this October. While he has support from some Ontario Power Generation and city employees, Kwasny said he’s still trying to get support from his family.
"I’m going to work on it" Kwasny. "They think I’m nuts."
Kwasny said his next step is to get out into the community. He said Peterson is unlike Toronto politicians who are visible in the city. On one trip to Toronto, Kwasny said he met former Toronto mayor Mel Lastman on the street.
"I’ll have an open door policy. I‘m always available I won’t be hiding," said Kwasny. "Has anybody ever seen the mayor up close…I’ve never seen her ever."
