The move was a “specific strategy” and a “dirty trick” designed to hinder the Chiarelli campaign’s fundraising efforts, the former Ottawa mayor and regional chair told Newstalk 580 CFRA. It’s the latest example of Ottawa’s mayoral race intensifying with Election Day less than two months away. Chiarelli made the claim after host Graham Richardson asked him if he would be watching the race until Election Day. “With all due respect, that’s a ridiculous question,” Chiarelli said. “I’m a candidate, I’m registered … how could anyone suggest or feel that I’m going to drop out?” Chiarelli announced his intention to run for mayor in December and filed nomination papers as soon as possible, which was May 2. Sutcliffe entered the race in late June. The registration deadline for the municipal elections ended on August 19. Chiarelli said previously, a “very, very senior person” in Sutcliffe’s campaign approached a current consultant and several community newspapers and told them Chiarelli would be dropping out. “It was a strategy of the Sutcliffe campaign to tell people I was going to retire before the deadline,” he added. “They tried to undermine our fundraising and it was a dirty trick. And we worked on it, we didn’t make any trouble at the time,” he said. “But we had to be convinced to tell people, ‘No, we’re serious, we’ll be there on election day.’ Sutcliffe told CTV News Ottawa he didn’t know what Chiarelli was talking about. “I have no idea what Bob is talking about,” he said. “I have a lot of respect for Bob, we always got along. I just think it’s time for a change.” Chiarelli also took aim at Sutcliffe’s candidacy, calling him “Watson 2.0,” as well as Catherine McKenney’s campaign. “Do you want to pay higher council taxes? Vote for Catherine McKenney,” he said. “If you like the current council, if you want the status quo, vote for Watson 2.0 Mark Sutcliffe, a candidate personally handpicked by the mayor.” The perceived mayoral front-runners have begun targeting each other with less than eight weeks to go until Election Day on October 24. This week, Sutcliffe’s team went after McKenney, accusing them of flip-flopping on the free passage issue. In response, McKenney said they want to eventually see transit fares eliminated in Ottawa, but clarified that’s a long-term goal and never said they would bring free overnight transit.
