Downtown business man considers run for mayor

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Jul 27, 2010- 2:16 PM

'Race for mayor is wide open'

By: Bill Bradley - Sudbury Northern Life

Downtown businessman and community volunteer Bob Wygant is seriously considering tossing his hat into the mayoral race in the upcoming October municipal election.

The owner of La Boulangerie du Village and Auberge, a Larch Street bakery, said he is concerned about the city's lack of future vision, missed opportunities, and scandals.

“We need to take back the city,” he said. “There are a whole lot of problems at Civic Square. It is an engine that is not running smoothly. Someone has to find out why.”

For that reason, he's seriously considering running in the Oct. 25 election.

“The race for mayor is wide open, he said. “People have been asking me to run for for mayor for a year and a half. Now they are asking me every day.”

Wygant is chair of Downtown Sudbury, the downtown business improvement association, and has radio, television, and business experience in Greater Sudbury.

Wygant purchased the Vitto Brand Foods plant in the early 1970s. Other business ventures include Roller Country and a 13-year stint with Northern Cable.

While he said he realizes the city cannot be run like one of his businesses, he said that does not mean a businessman can not be a good mayor.

Wygant said his main interest was in strengthening the role of the mayor and city councillors in determining the course of the city.

“I think senior city managers run the city,” he said. “That has to change.”

But another goal, should Wygant decide to run and then win the mayor's job, is improving city and community organization communication and partnerships. He said he has seen organizations “lock horns” with city managers in the past.

He mentioned community groups such as the Minnow Lake Community Action Network, the Rainbow Routes Association, the Downtown Village Development Corporation and Imagine Sudbury as being examples of groups who had developed enough of a vision to attract citizens.

He said the city holds great promise.

“Greater Sudbury is one of the best kept secrets in Canada,” he said. “We have to take advantage of some of the things that are right under our noses — the 330 lakes, the outdoors nearby, but most especially the people that live here.”

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10 Comments

  • Top Gun 8/5/2010 12:27:02 PM - Report Abuse

    I won't vote for any of them. This Dereck, 1% of the city budget to the arts? Don't think so. Sports center and Arts center on his agenda? I don't think so. Pylons are the way to go.

  • clockw3rx 7/29/2010 12:30:15 PM - Report Abuse

    Why vote for Wygant?

    lets look at his credibility here for a second:

    a)Wygant has pissed more ppl off in this city than any politician has. Why else did he need police escorts to local community functions?

    b)Mr.Wygant sat on committees where he would not follow rules such as federal rules imposed for its comittee. He also would ignore team input from comittee members and run his own show and totally disrigard rules and law.

    So tell me, why would we want to vote in another old man with the same old ethics as the current old guard on council? ... And to add ... why would you vote for this guy if he cannot follow simple laws or work as a team player?

    MR.Wygant is NOT mayor material nor is he suited for politics.

  • downtownfan 7/28/2010 10:00:19 PM - Report Abuse

    Thank goodness...a credible candidate at last. I hope Mr. Wygant runs...he will win!

  • downtownfan 7/28/2010 9:58:54 PM - Report Abuse

    Thank goodness...a credible candidate at last. I hope Mr. Wygant runs...he will win!

  • clockw3rx 7/27/2010 11:35:17 PM - Report Abuse

    i'll say this much,

    between all candidates, Derek has my full support. And here's why:

    1- He is young and has a new vision for our city

    2- He does have a solid business backbone .. he does own a successful promotional company which has done many events around northern ontario.

    3- Politcal experience? he's served two terms on the Students’ Administrative Council in the roles of Director Finance, Chairperson, Vice President External Relations, and President. In his role as President he was instrumental in creating two new student seats on the Academic Divisional and tackled issues of student apathy by leading by example and creating relationships with faculty and administration who are the front line workers in direct contact with the student body. During his term of office he held the position of Northern Vice President for the Ontario Community College Student Parliamentary Association now known as the College Student Alliance.

    In the end we need someone who knows the bs political red tape, someone who is young and business savy, and a vision to progress our city to a new level. If we keep voting in the old guys ... or the same old politcal players within the city ...... Sudbury will be left behind as usual.

  • Harry 7/27/2010 6:06:17 PM - Report Abuse

    From previous postings, I believe that Mr. Wygant would like every taxpayer dollar to be invested in the downtown area.

    Until I hear differently, I don't think this is the man for the job.

    I agree with Gopher ... why are no "qualified" candidates coming forward? Makes me seriously think of moving out of this city.

  • Gopher 7/27/2010 5:45:48 PM - Report Abuse

    Why is it the only so-called legitimate candidates we have for Mayor are old, white guys? These are guys who are literally retirees (Rodriguez and Callaghan). I think we have a major problem if we can't recruit younger people with a little vision. No disrespect intended, but Derek Young is not that person. This is so frustrating to watch.

  • normduster 7/27/2010 3:32:48 PM - Report Abuse

    I hear that Rick Bartolocci is going to run for Mayor because he will be out of a job this fall...and Wygant has no chance of winning.....

  • whiteswan69_1 7/27/2010 3:28:07 PM - Report Abuse

    Hope that you run for Mayor.You would not be any worse than the mayor that we have now.I would be very happy if we have more people run for Mayor.We need a new Mayor in Sudbury.

  • skndstry 7/27/2010 2:39:59 PM - Report Abuse

    Wygant is a nut bar. Ask anyone who has worked for him or with him.
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