Coun. Susan Stevenson, who has often criticized the City of London’s approach to homelessness and drug use in the downtown area, is now officially running for mayor.
The Ward 4 councillor, elected in 2022, submitted her nomination papers at city hall on Monday.
Although it’s still early in the lead-up to the fall municipal elections, Stevenson stands out as a prominent challenger to Josh Morgan’s campaign for a second term as mayor of the southwestern Ontario city. Other candidates who have filed their papers include John Feher, Kirsten Krose, and Lawrence-Zachary Howe.
Nominations for all mayoral and council positions opened on May 1 and will close on August 21.
Stevenson, a 59-year-old accountant by profession, has consistently voiced her concerns about how the city has handled homelessness and drug issues downtown. These sentiments were reiterated in a statement she sent out on Monday announcing her run for mayor.
“More and more Londoners have been calling out for greater transparency and accountability, lower taxes and a safer downtown,” her statement read. “The misery that many are experiencing is real. They want leadership that is clear and accountable to the taxpayers who are funding this $1.4 billion corporation.”
Residents Feel ‘Completely Left Out’
Stevenson mentioned that a “growing number” of citizens have encouraged her to run for mayor, “and that is what I’ve decided to do.”
“Citizens feel completely left out and it’s imperative that we get back to actively working with citizens to address their concerns, especially when results have failed to meet public expectations.”
She stated that her campaign would aim at enhancing decision-making within city hall.
“Our primary duty is to ensure the accountability and transparency of the municipality’s operations, which involves reassessing goals, openly engaging the public, and rebuilding a realistic, evidence-based plan,” the statement read. “I’ll have much more to say about that going forward.”
Stevenson’s candid nature regarding city spending related to homelessness has led some criticism as well as several integrity commissioner complaints during her time on council.
Supporters and Critics
One integrity commissioner complaint resulted in a 30-day suspension of her pay due to social media comments about a senior city staffer.
This year she faced reprimand from council over social media posts featuring images of potentially identifiable homeless individuals stemming from another investigation by integrity commissioners.
A few weeks ago she proposed a motion aimed at preventing city-contracted agencies from distributing clean drug-use supplies downtown; however, it was rejected by council.
While Stevenson has faced backlash over her remarks, she’s also garnered support-especially from business owners troubled by littering, vandalism, and open drug use near their establishments.
She’s often pointed out that an uneven distribution of shelters and resources meant for London’s homeless population exists predominantly in Old East Village (OEV).
A recent review of ward boundaries shifted OEV from Ward 4 into Ward 1.
Landon residents will vote on mayoral races along with 14 council seats starting early October. Election day is set for October 26.
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