Sam Katz

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Sam Katz
OM
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42nd Mayor of Winnipeg
In office
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Preceded byGlen Murray
Succeeded byBrian Bowman
Personal details
BornSamuel Michael Katz
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Rehovot, Israel
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PartyIndependent
Children2
University of Manitoba (BA)
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  • Real estate developer
  • theatre producer

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Samuel Michael Katz OM (born August 20, 1951) is a Canadian businessman and former politician who was the 42nd mayor of Winnipeg, Manitoba from 2004 to 2014.[1] He is the owner of the Winnipeg Goldeyes of the American Association, as well as the Ottawa Titans of the Frontier League.[2] He was owner of the Winnipeg Thunder and served as president of the short-lived National Basketball League.

Life before mayorship

Katz was born in Rehovot, Israel. He emigrated to Winnipeg in November 1951 as an infant with his parents, Chaim and Zena Katz, and his older brother, David, and was raised in North Winnipeg.[3] Shortly after graduating in 1973 with a Bachelor of Arts in economics from the University of Manitoba, he opened a retail clothing store in Brandon, Manitoba.[3] Throughout his career he continued his entrepreneurial ventures in real estate and entertainment.[3] His entertainment company, Showtime Productions Inc., brought artists such as Tina Turner, the Rolling Stones, and Paul McCartney, and musicals such as Evita, Les Misérables and The Phantom of the Opera to Winnipeg.[3][4]

In 1994, he brought professional baseball back to Winnipeg with the Winnipeg Goldeyes, who now play in the American Association.[4] Through this franchise, he arranged for the construction and success of Shaw Park in 1999.[4] Katz was also founder of the Winnipeg Goldeyes Field of Dreams Foundation,[5] an organization that has donated more than a $900,000 to children's charities and non-profit organizations in Manitoba.[6]

Mayor of Winnipeg (2004–2014)

On June 22, 2004, Katz was elected mayor of Winnipeg,[3] beating Dan Vandal, Al Golden, and MaryAnn Mihychuk and receiving 42% of the vote.[7] This came after Glen Murray's resignation as mayor to run in the 2004 federal election.[7]

Katz was reelected in the 2006 elections with 61.60% of the vote. He was elected to a third term in the 2010 elections with 55% of the vote.[8]

Mayoral decisions

Aboriginal Community

Katz assumed the role of Secretary of Urban Aboriginal Affairs in 2008.[9] In 2009, Manitoba Métis Federation (MMF) President David Chartrand and Sam Katz launched “It’s My Community Too”.[9] Katz pledged $3 million for aboriginal youth over three years beginning in 2009.[10]

Advisory boards

Katz created the Mayor's Seniors Advisory Committee in 2007.[11] [12] Katz also created the citizen-led Police Advisory Board.[13] Councillors Jenny Gerbasi, Mike Pagtakhan, Harvey Smith, Lillian Thomas and Dan Vandal voted in opposition to this board because it meets behind closed doors.[14] In 2009, Katz hosted Mayor’s Symposium – A Sustainable Winnipeg. This symposium was a surprise to some residents because Katz has been critiqued for his approach to the environment and sustainability.[15]

Economy

In 2005, Katz cut the business tax by 20%.[16] Katz created a Special Events Marketing Fund for conferences and special events.[17]

Efficiency at City Hall

First, the Mayor's Red Tape Commission recommended 30 recommendations to cut red tape.[18][19] One of the recommendations of the commission was to implement 311. It was operational by January 2009.[20][21] Expenditures have been posted on Winnipeg.ca since 2007.[19][22] In 2009, Katz unveiled Plan Winnipeg, a 25-year blueprint for the future.[23][24]

Environment

In 2008, Katz committed to a 20% reduction in corporate municipal greenhouse gases.[19][25] In April 2009 a Mayor’s Symposium – A Sustainable Winnipeg was held and kicked off www.speakupwinnipeg.com, a collaborative approach to city planning that is socially, environmentally and financially sustainable.[15][26]

Infrastructure

The Province of Manitoba and The City of Winnipeg negotiated a new infrastructure agreement with the Federal Government and the Provincial Government that included an increase of $50 million over two years (2006–08).[27] Katz endorses the use of P3s (Public, Private Partnership) to fund roads, bridges and paths. This method is reported to have ensured the Charleswood Bridge project (completed in 1995 during Mayor Susan Thompson's term) was built on time and on budget. (Katz had nothing to do with the Charleswood Bridge project, which long preceded his involvement in City Hall.)[28]

Property taxes

In 2009, Katz pledged to keep property taxes in Winnipeg frozen for the 12th straight year.[10] The policy was applauded by the Canadian Taxpayers Federation, but has been criticized by the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives, which, in their 2010 Alternative Budget, said "the semblance of a property tax freeze is only made possible with less transparent tax increases to pick up the slack of fiscal irresponsibility."[29]

Recreation

Katz supported an indoor soccer facility in The City of Winnipeg.[30] Although controversial, he also championed having a waterpark in Winnipeg.[31]

Safety

Katz welcomed a bylaw enacted in 2005 to restrict aggressive panhandling.[32] He also committed to alternative options for at-risk youth including participation in sports and activities in community centres as a preventative measure.[33] In 2007, Katz appointed Winnipeg Chief of Police Keith McCaskill.[34] Katz increased the Winnipeg Police Department budget from $140 million to $160 million, which is 20% of the Operating Budget.[35] Operation Clean Sweep became a permanent entity, which is supported by the established permanent Street Crime Unit.[36] After touring New York City, Katz was interested in the creation and implementation of Crimestat, an interactive system to provide up-to-date information to help protect citizens.[37][38] Katz supported a graffiti control bylaw to stop the sale and possession of spray paint to minors.[39] Katz supported a Winnipeg auto theft suppression strategy as a way to crack down on auto theft.[40]

Transportation

Construction of the Southwest Rapid Transit Corridor started in summer 2009.[41] A transit strike was averted in 2008.[42] Katz has said that Winnipeg should take full advantage of being the mid-continent trade corridor.[43]

Criticism

Katz was the subject of criticism after a P3 deal was tabled and provisionally accepted a 30-year deal with Veolia to manage Winnipeg's waste water.

After referring to Winnipeg's five female Olympic medal winners as "beautiful females" whose close-up presence made him "feel like Hugh Hefner",[44] Katz was criticized by a women's studies professor at the University of Manitoba. Reaction from the citizens of Winnipeg was mixed.[44]

Katz is the target of humour in a song by The Consumer Goods.[45] Their song "And the Final Words are Yours, Sam Katz" was entered in medium rotation at a number of local radio stations and offers Katz ironic sympathy for the difficulties of running "a city, a business and a baseball team", the use of Malathion for mosquito fogging, and a military training exercise (Operation Charging Bison).[45]

Katz also came under fire from the city's French-speaking population after removing a bilingual requirement from the criteria for awarding a restaurant license on the Esplanade Riel bridge and backing away from earlier promises to help fund a French-language theatre.[46]

Six days before the Winnipeg City Council voted on the city's operating budget, Katz revised it. This drew criticism from councillor Jenny Gerbasi and the Manitoba director of the Canadian Taxpayers Federation, Adrienne Batra.[47]

Riverside Park Management

Script error: No such module "Labelled list hatnote". Riverside Park Management is a nonprofit organization founded by Katz in 1997 to create a leasehold stake in the proposed CanWest Park stadium that eventually housed his Winnipeg Goldeyes baseball team.[48] Katz continued his involvement after being elected mayor and when a property tax controversy arose was accused of conflict of interest as he was both Mayor of Winnipeg and president of Riverside Park from August 2005 to April 2008, while the two sides were engaged in a financial dispute.[49]

Fire hall construction controversy

A 2013 city-commissioned report on the construction of new fire halls alleged that Shindico, a Winnipeg-based commercial real-estate developer, received the contract due to favouritism.[50] According to CBC News, the developer was granted building rights after previous correspondence between Shindico and the former fire chief, Reid Douglas, despite being the highest bidder. Katz in particular was criticized due to his long-standing relationship with Shindico, of which he had partial financial ownership until 2013. Katz said his financial ties to Shindico had been severed, and denied any allegations of favouritism or involvement in the fire hall contract.[51]

Immediately after the report was published, multiple city councillors asked for Katz's resignation due to the fire hall situation. Katz's friendship with Phil Sheegl, the former City of Winnipeg Chief Administrative Officer who negotiated the fire hall contract, received substantial attention. Katz stated that the councillors were entitled to their opinions but that he would not resign.[52]

Uniter opinion piece and lawsuit

Shortly after the fire hall report was released, an opinion piece written by a volunteer was published by the Uniter, the University of Winnipeg's main student newspaper.[53] The piece, which criticized the mayor's handling of the fire hall, resulted in Katz's suing the university, the Uniter and the author of the piece.[54] Katz said he was seeking an apology, as he knew that the Uniter did not have the funds necessary for a financial settlement. The university stated that it believed its involvement in the lawsuit was an error, given that it had no editorial oversight of the student paper.[55] As of February 6, 2014, the case had not been heard in court.

Honours

In 2002, Katz was presented with the Queen's Golden Jubilee Medal.[4] In 2003, he received the University of Manitoba Distinguished Alumnus Award. In 2004, he was given the province's highest honour, the Order of Manitoba, for demonstrating an ability to improve the social, cultural and economic well-being of Manitoba and its residents.[5]

Personal life

Sam was married to Baillie, with whom he's had two daughters (born in 2001 and 2005).[56] Katz began divorce proceedings with his wife on October 26, 2006 – one day after his reelection.[56] Katz is married to Leah Pasuta.

Electoral record

Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'Module:Navbar/configuration' not found.Winnipeg municipal by-election, June 22, 2004: Mayor of Winnipeg
Candidate Votes %
Sam Katz 99,015 42.51
Dan Vandal 55,644 23.89
Allan Golden 34,562 14.84
MaryAnn Mihychuk 23,412 10.05
Garth Steek 16,497 7.08
Gordon Kirkby 1,986 0.85
Shirley Timm-Rudolph 801 0.34
Nelson P. Morrison 528 0.23
Natalie Pollock 453 0.19
Total valid votes 232,898 100.00


Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'Module:Navbar/configuration' not found.2006 Winnipeg municipal election: Mayor of Winnipeg
Candidate Votes %
(x)Sam Katz 104,380 61.60
Marianne Cerilli 38,227 22.56
Kaj Hasselriis 22,401 13.22
Ron Pollock 4,444 2.62
Total valid votes 169,452 100.00
2010 Winnipeg Mayoral election
Candidate Votes %
(x) Sam Katz 116,308 54.8
Judy Wasylycia-Leis 90,913 42.8
Brad Gross 3,398 1.68
Rav Gill 1,775 0.8

References

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  5. ^ a b Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."News Release: Eleven Manitobans to receive Order of Manitoba". Lieutenant-Governor of Manitoba. July 15, 2004. Archived from the original on February 28, 2006. Retrieved July 2, 2007.
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  46. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.Welch, Mary Agnes (February 18, 2005). "Anger grows in St. B". Winnipeg Free Press. Archived from the original on July 16, 2008. Retrieved September 5, 2008.
  47. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.Kives, Bartley (March 24, 2007). "Critics slam Katz over just-released budget info". Winnipeg Free Press. Archived from the original on May 9, 2008. Retrieved June 20, 2008.
  48. ^ Bartley Kives, "Fair Ball?", Winnipeg Free Press, October 11, 2008, A6.
  49. ^ Bartley Kives, "Conflict of interest clear to all except the mayor", Winnipeg Free Press, September 20, 2008, B2.
  50. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.Teghan Beaudette (October 21, 2013). "Shindico shown favouritism, fire hall report shows". CBC News. Retrieved February 6, 2014.
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  52. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.Aldo Santin (October 25, 2013). "Councillors seeking Katz's resignation". Winnipeg Free Press. Retrieved February 6, 2014.
  53. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.Josh Benoit (December 4, 2013). "Archived copy of "The Local Political Blunder"". The Uniter. Archived from the original on February 4, 2014. Retrieved February 6, 2014.
  54. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.James Turner (February 3, 2014). "Katz suing over Uniter article". Winnipeg Free Press. Retrieved February 6, 2014.
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