Cullen drops out of mayoral race

Citing insufficient funds, city councillor Alex Cullen has dropped out of the mayoral race and said he plans to run again inBay ward.

Cullen had announced he was entering the mayoralrace in January, but since then it has become a crowded field, with current mayor Larry O'Brien, former Ottawa mayor Jim Watson and fellow councillor Clive Doucet all announcing their candidacy.

The candicacy of Doucet, who isCullen's allyin council on some issues like the environment, support for the arts and culture and the redevelopment of Lansdowne Park, was in particular a surprise.

But Cullen said his decision to end the mayoral campaign came down to money.

"I strongly believe I have the vision and ideas to present a progressive choice for voters in Ottawa but the hard facts are that to reach 900,000 residents you need at least $100,000 to run an effective campaign," Cullen said in a statement. He said his decision nottoaccept corporate or union donations hampered his fundraising efforts.

Cullen's decision to run again in Bay Ward sets up a battle with Terry Kilrea, who lost to Cullen in thatwardin 2006 after he dropped out of the mayoral race.

Cullen said part of the reason he was returning to run in Bay Ward was to stop Kilrea.

"I strongly believe Mr. Kilrea's values are inappropriate for Bay Ward and that I am in the best position to beat him," he said.

Cullen's return will bring the total number of candidates running for council in Bay Ward to 11, and there are a number of prominent entrants beyond Cullen and Kilrea.

Former Watson executive assistant Mark Taylor, former Kitchissippi Ward councillor Shawn Little, community activist Oni Joseph and federal public servant Greg Ross who Cullen had earlier endorsed are also candidates in the riding.

The mayoral race, meanwhile, now has 15 candidates. After Cullen announced his withdrawal, the CBC spoke with current mayor LarryO'Brien, who said he was "very disappointed. Of the three left wing candidatesthat were leading, he was the one supporting the LRT campaign."

Former Ottawa mayor Jim Watson, who said he suspected a Cullen campaign for mayor might have split some of the west end vote, said "my hope is I'll be able to win their support."