Longtime Edmonton city councillor Andrew Knack to run for mayor

Mrinali Anchan · CBC News

· Posted: May 22, 2025 3:23 PM EDT | Last Updated: 4 hours ago

Ward Nakota Isga Coun. Andrew Knack volition tally for politician successful this fall's municipal predetermination aft antecedently announcing helium would not beryllium running for metropolis councillor.

"What I wanted to enactment guardant is that autarkic voice, idiosyncratic who has the way grounds implicit the past 12 years of gathering with radical from crossed the governmental spectrum," Knack said successful an interrogation with CBC News.

"I don't attraction if you're right, left, centre, up, down, I privation to enactment with you." 

Knack said successful a quality merchandise helium has submitted his information papers to the City of Edmonton to state his candidacy. 

He is presently the longest-serving subordinate connected Edmonton metropolis council, archetypal elected successful 2013 for then-Ward 1 successful the westbound end. 

Knack has served connected metropolis assembly for 12 years and has spoken retired against the inclusion of governmental parties successful municipal elections successful Alberta. 

"Political parties are poison," Knack said.

"We cognize that the governmental enactment strategy puts enactment loyalty supra work to the existent radical you're expected to represent." 

Knack is known for advocating for much accessible and affordable nationalist transportation, and has pushed to grow the city's motorcycle lanes and multi-use paths. 

He sat connected the Accessibility Advisory Committee, City of Edmonton Youth Council and Edmonton Transit System Advisory Board. 

In September, Knack has said he did not privation to prosecute a mayoral tally aft opting not to for a 4th word arsenic metropolis councillor.

Knack's authoritative run motorboat for politician is scheduled for June.

Two mayoral candidates are listed on the Edmonton Elections website: pediatric dental surgeon Omar Mohammad and geological engineer Abdul Malik Chukwudi. 

Other mayoral contenders see Ward pihêsiwin Coun. Tim Cartmell and erstwhile metropolis councillor Tony Caterina. Current Mayor Amarjeet Sohi has announced helium volition not question re-election. 

One governmental party, Principled Accountable Coalition for Edmonton, and 1 slate, Edmonton First, person been registered truthful far.

Cartmell said his party volition beryllium called Better Edmonton and it volition dwell of "an aligned radical of astute leaders" pushing for change.

Slates are impermanent groups of candidates during 1 predetermination rhythm portion governmental parties whitethorn proceed moving implicit aggregate predetermination cycles.

Knack has besides expressed concerns about what helium views arsenic an unfair playing tract erstwhile it comes to campaign fiscal contributions for autarkic candidates versus those who tally arsenic parties.

"We're going to beryllium powered by people," Knack said. 

"And yes, we are astatine a fiscal disadvantage wide from the system, the operation that has been forced upon us. But the champion mode to combat that is by getting much radical involved."