Hobbs enters race

Keith Hobbs has made it official.

On Thursday he filed his papers at the city clerk’s office and officially entered the mayor’s race in next fall’s municipal election.

Hobbs, who after 33 years retired from Thunder Bay Police services in order to make the leap into politics and said it took a lot of soul-searching and talking with family, friends and supporters before he decided to charge ahead.

Hobbs, as first reported at tbnewswatch.com, announced earlier this year his intention to run, but was unsure whether he would seek the mayor’s chair or an at-large councillor bid.
"They advised me I need to take the top job and I have to wholeheartedly agree with that," Hobbs said, with a dozen or so supporters surrounding him at city hall.

"I think I can do a lot more in the mayor’s chair than in a councillor’s seat."

Hobbs, who is challenging incumbent two-term Mayor Lynn Peterson, made a name for himself last fall when he challenged police chief Robert Herman about the way the police department is run. He criticized the chief for not properly addressing rising violent crime levels in the city, and during his Thursday news conference he promised he’d be more than just a one-issue, law-and-order candidate.

"I’m way more than that. I’m so passionate about this city. I love Thunder Bay and I’ve lived here for 46 years. I’ve worked here as a police officer for 33 years. I know every square inch of this city. I know the people in it. I’ve seen the worst of this city, but I’ve seen the best. There’s way more good in this city than there is bad," Hobbs said.

The former president of the Thunder Bay Police Association, Hobbs said he thinks Peterson has done a good job, and knows she will be a tough competitor to beat, but he feels he’s up for the challenge and has the support and experience to overcome the odds.

"I’ve gone where people don’t dare to go in my career. I have a lot of experience in lobbying at the provincial and federal level. I’ve just finished running a million-dollar organization with Ten. I’ve approved million-dollar projects into organized crime. I have a whole raft of experience. I worked intelligence, I’ve worked criminal investigation and I’ve done charity work."

Neil Gregory, on hand to show support for Hobbs, said he’s doing it for one reason, and one reason only.

"We need change in Thunder Bay," he said. "We need someone who really cares about the city and who really cares about it."

Hobbs’s son Scott, said it’s his father’s passion that makes his such a viable candidate.

"He’s wanted to keep doing something to help the city out. He’s been very passionate about some of the issues that have been affecting the city of Thunder Bay for a long time, to do what he could to help out."

The elder Hobbs said he’s more than ready for life in a fishbowl, and he’s going into the race with his eyes wide open.

"It is going to be a challenge and it’s going to be a very interesting election."

Hobbs chose not to unveil his platform, saying instead he’ll roll it out over the next few months.