Written by Tim Bousquet, News Editor at The Coast

The downtown Halifax council election heats up in District 12, with the incumbent facing the young scion of an old political family, a student and an environmental consultant.

For local politics, downtown Halifax is the place to be this year.

In the battle for media attention, Halifax elections lag behind coverage of the American and Canadian federal elections, and what press coverage locals do get is mostly focused on the mayoral race between Peter Kelly and Sheila Fougere. But the most dynamic and interesting local election is arguably the council contest for District 12.

That four-way race pits incumbent Dawn Sloane against Jerome Downey, James Stuewe and Cameron Ells. Sloane is a singular presence on council, both lauded and criticized for her outspoken, take-no-shit style. Downey is an account executive and grandson of Graham Downey, the long-serving African-Nova Scotian councillor who represented the north end in the old city of Halifax and into the amalgamated HRM. Stuewe is a university student who comes from the ambitious young professional networking scene. Ells is an environmental consultant.

Those varied personalities are vying to represent a similarly varied constituency. Bounded by North, Robie and South streets and the Halifax Harbour, District 12 contains the working class neighbourhoods of the north end, the urban chic condo district around Bishop’s Landing and the historic Schmidtville, an increasingly vocal community of professionals.

Of late, the highest profile and most contentious issues in the district have revolved around development of high rises, which Sloane has generally opposed. But in interviews, each of the candidates speaks of a broader range of issues, from violence to community parks to transit. And while they are reluctant to directly criticize each other, each insists he or she is the best person for the job of representing District 12.

Jerome Downey
“Making the decision to run for council—to be honest, it was something I’ve planned my entire life,” says Downey. “I grew up in a political family, it was what I was raised on. I can remember tossing a ball and walking through the hallways of City Hall.”

Downey went to Mount Allison University on a scholarship, and now works as an account executive at a financial institution downtown.

When he gets elected, he says, “the first thing I’ll do is clean up our streets.” He underscores quality-of-life issues—replacing parks that have been removed, providing better lighting, more trees, etc. He’ll use his council seat as a bully pulpit to oppose school closures in the neighbourhood.

Gottingen Street has been ignored and “is nothing more than an exit ramp to the Macdonald Bridge,” says Downey. “Ultimately, my goal is that when you come off the Macdonald Bridge, I don’t want you to know which end of Halifax you’re in. It’s about addressing the issues and helping the people who need help the most.”

“It’s the 21st century,” Downey says when asked about development issues. “I’m pro-development, but I’m not just about chucking high-rises up just to have them, they have to be cohesive. But you can’t disagree with a development just because it doesn’t make you feel good. It’s not about you, it’s about what’s better for the city.”

Downey offers that he is “saddened” that the Midtown development didn’t get council approval and considers Purdy’s Wharf “the most beautiful building in Canada.”