‘Someone who actually knows the issues on the ground’: Newcomer to politics seeking Edmonton mayor’s chair

Malik Chukwudi, Edmonton mayoral candidate, speaks with Alberta Primetime host Michael Higgins about his campaign.

This interview has been edited for clarity and length.

Michael Higgins: What’s driving your run for the mayor’s chair?

Malik Chukwudi: For so long, those who’ve been in council have been viewed as the most intelligent, and having all the ingredients to become the next mayor. This opportunity has gotten to a point where they viewed it as entitlement.

It’s not something you get handed because you’ve been there for 20 years. We have to look at the results and the disconnect between the council and the city of Edmonton.

The reason why I decided (to run), I think someone who actually knows the issues on the ground should step in and solve the problems.

MH: Do you run as an independent?

MC: Yes, I run as an independent. I just want to tackle it head on because I don’t want anyone to seem to swing me one direction or the other. I got calls to go to (Principled Accountable Coalition for Edmonton) but then when I went and sat down with them I realized no, this has to be for the people. For small and medium-sized businesses and folks who have been struggling here in Edmonton, and not lobbyists.

Someone behind you is pulling the strings, and no, I don’t want that.

MH: Is there a spot on the political spectrum where you would land?

MC: I’m centre-left. If I wasn’t running I would vote for any candidate that cares about NDP or Liberal values. When it comes to balancing the budget, when it comes to social issues, I’m heavy on those things.

Homeless issues, drug addiction, crime and public safety, also low income housing, I’m heavy on those things, and we need to look into those things.

MH: What are the tough decisions that next council needs to make?

MC: The next council has to understand how the city of Edmonton actually works. I think one of the biggest problems is you win election and you’re in there now like a deer caught in the headlights.

Here’s a $10 million or $60 million dollar snow removal budget, and you don’t know the right questions to ask. Why did we arrive with $60 million? What exactly is in the materials? Is it trucks, equipment, overtime pay for the snow removal workers?

Someone like me, who has done it before, I understand how these things are budgeted. I can help them get up to speed and say, ‘If we go this direction, we’ll end up where we don’t want to be. If we go this direction, folks in Edmonton will be very happy.’

I’ve been out there at two in the morning, shoveling snow, plowing snow, training snow truck operators to get their 40 hours to plow the snow. So I’ve done it, and I’ve looked at the budget. I’ve also signed the papers, done the overtime.

I’ve worked in private sector. I spent 22 years in oil and gas and six years in coal mining before I joined the city. I was the regional manager for an oil company in the Middle East and around the world, so I understand how private sector works. Efficiency is very important. The fact that I worked for the city, I could get them up to speed, and I could say, ‘This is what we’ve done and failed. This is what we could do to succeed.’

MH: You bring experience to the table, but you’re facing experience, from those who are already there. How do you overcome that?

MC: I’ll listen to them. I’ve always said if everyone thinks like Malik, the world would be a very miserable place. I’m a Gemini, I’m very open to ideas and stuff.

Those that brought experience, I want to see what they’ve done and (how they’ve) succeeded. Because in the private sector it is about results. Unfortunately, in government and politics, it’s not about that. It’s how much money you throw at a problem.

I’m all about results. I don’t care if you’ve been there for 20 years, I’ll listen to you, but if what you’ve done hasn’t produced any revenue, or saved money for the city, or made life easier for people and businesses and working class, I don’t know if I’ll go that direction.