Shirley Timm-Rudolph
Encyclopedia
Shirley Timm-Rudolph is a former politician in Winnipeg
, Manitoba
, Canada
. She was a city councillor from 1986 to 1992 and again from 1995 to 2002, and served on the city's Executive Policy Committee from 1997 to 1998. Timm-Rudolph ran for the Canadian House of Commons
in the 1988 federal election
, and for Mayor of Winnipeg in a 2004 by-election.
in the 1983 municipal election
as a New Democrat
in the Springfield Heights division, and narrowly lost to Jim Ragsdill. She ran again in 1986
as an independent, and was elected in a crowded field . She ran for the Canadian House of Commons in 1988 as a Liberal
, and finished second against New Democratic Party incumbent Bill Blaikie
in Winnipeg—Transcona.
Re-elected to a second term in 1989
, Timm-Rudolph lost to fellow councillor Rick Boychuk
in 1992
after redistribution forced the two incumbents to face one another. The 1992 contest was marked by extreme bitterness, with Boychuk accusing Timm-Rudolph of being in a conflict of interest
situation. She was later cleared by a provincial investigation.
Timm-Rudolph served on the provincial Municipal Board after her 1992 defeat. She ran for re-election in 1995
, and defeated Boychuk in a rematch. During this campaign, she proposed the creation of an auxiliary police force that would take care of simple tasks and allow officers to focus on more important matters. When asked about her political ideology, she responded "dead centre". A subsequent survey of voting patterns in early 1997 found her to be one of council's most independent members, voting with or against Mayor Susan Thompson
's governing coalition depending on the issue.
Thompson appointed Timm-Rudolph as acting deputy mayor in November 1995, and named her to the executive policy committee (ie. the municipal cabinet) in March 1997. She was initially the chair of the planning and services committee, and was reassigned as chair of the public works committee in November 1997. She voted against a bus fare reduction in 1998, arguing that it would lead to higher property taxes.
Timm-Rudolph was expected to face a difficult re-election contest in 1998
, but instead won without difficulty after Russ Wyatt
, her main opponent, decided to withdraw at the last minute. After the election, she became a prominent figure in the council's unofficial opposition to new mayor Glen Murray. She served on the board of the Winnipeg Convention Centre and remained a member of the public works committee, but was no longer its chair. Timm-Rudolph also served on several national boards in this period, including those of the Federation of Canadian Municipalities
and the Yellowhead Highway. She was a critic of Winnipeg's restrictive anti-smoking legislation, and was one of only two councillors to vote against the 2001 operating budget.
Timm-Rudolph decided not to seek re-election in 2002
, saying that she found it different to work with Glen Murray. She indicated that she wanted to start a consulting business and write children's books. She later said that her greatest accomplishment in office was facilitating the construction of a storm water retention basin in southeast Transcona, an area often plagued by flooding.
.
Winnipeg
Winnipeg is the capital and largest city of Manitoba, Canada, and is the primary municipality of the Winnipeg Capital Region, with more than half of Manitoba's population. It is located near the longitudinal centre of North America, at the confluence of the Red and Assiniboine Rivers .The name...
, Manitoba
Manitoba
Manitoba is a Canadian prairie province with an area of . The province has over 110,000 lakes and has a largely continental climate because of its flat topography. Agriculture, mostly concentrated in the fertile southern and western parts of the province, is vital to the province's economy; other...
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
. She was a city councillor from 1986 to 1992 and again from 1995 to 2002, and served on the city's Executive Policy Committee from 1997 to 1998. Timm-Rudolph ran for the Canadian House of Commons
Canadian House of Commons
The House of Commons of Canada is a component of the Parliament of Canada, along with the Sovereign and the Senate. The House of Commons is a democratically elected body, consisting of 308 members known as Members of Parliament...
in the 1988 federal election
Canadian federal election, 1988
The Canadian federal election of 1988 was held November 21, 1988, to elect members of the Canadian House of Commons of the 34th Parliament of Canada. It was an election largely fought on a single issue: the Canada-U.S. Free Trade Agreement ....
, and for Mayor of Winnipeg in a 2004 by-election.
Early life and private career
Timm-Rudolph was raised in north-end Winnipeg, and was an interior designer before entering public life. She became a salesperson after leaving council in 1992, and established a consulting business in 2002. In 2004, she organized the charity Gold Spike Golf Tournament.Councillor
Timm-Rudolph first ran for Winnipeg City CouncilWinnipeg City Council
The Winnipeg City Council is the governing body of the city of Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada.Members represent wards throughout the city, and are known as councillors.-2006-2010:Council elected in the 2006 election:-2010-2014:...
in the 1983 municipal election
Winnipeg municipal election, 1983
The 1983 Winnipeg municipal election was held on October 26, 1983 to elect a mayor, councillors and school trustees in the city of Winnipeg. There were also two referendum questions, on bilingualism and nuclear disarmament....
as a New Democrat
New Democratic Party of Manitoba
The New Democratic Party of Manitoba is a social-democratic political party in Manitoba, Canada. It is the provincial wing of the federal New Democratic Party, and is a successor to the Manitoba Co-operative Commonwealth Federation...
in the Springfield Heights division, and narrowly lost to Jim Ragsdill. She ran again in 1986
Winnipeg municipal election, 1986
The 1986 Winnipeg municipal election was held on October 22, 1986 to elect a mayor, councillors and school trustees in the city of Winnipeg.Bill Norrie was re-elected to a fourth term as mayor, defeating former Member of the Legislative Assembly Russell Doern and ten other...
as an independent, and was elected in a crowded field . She ran for the Canadian House of Commons in 1988 as a Liberal
Liberal Party of Canada
The Liberal Party of Canada , colloquially known as the Grits, is the oldest federally registered party in Canada. In the conventional political spectrum, the party sits between the centre and the centre-left. Historically the Liberal Party has positioned itself to the left of the Conservative...
, and finished second against New Democratic Party incumbent Bill Blaikie
Bill Blaikie
William Alexander "Bill" Blaikie, PC is a Canadian politician. He has been a member of the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba since April 2009, representing the Winnipeg division of Elmwood as a member of the New Democratic Party of Manitoba, and Minister of Conservation and Government House Leader...
in Winnipeg—Transcona.
Re-elected to a second term in 1989
Winnipeg municipal election, 1989
The 1989 Winnipeg municipal election was held on October 25, 1989 to elect a mayor, councillors and school trustees in the city of Winnipeg.Bill Norrie was re-elected to a fifth term as mayor without serious opposition.-Councillors:...
, Timm-Rudolph lost to fellow councillor Rick Boychuk
Rick Boychuk
Rick Boychuk is a labour leader and former politician in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. He served on the Winnipeg City Council from 1989 to 1995, representing the Transcona ward. Boychuk is a member of the New Democratic Party....
in 1992
Winnipeg municipal election, 1992
The 1992 Winnipeg municipal election was held on October 28, 1992 to elect a mayor, councillors and school trustees in the city of Winnipeg.Susan Thompson defeated Greg Selinger in the mayoral contest.-Councillors:...
after redistribution forced the two incumbents to face one another. The 1992 contest was marked by extreme bitterness, with Boychuk accusing Timm-Rudolph of being in a conflict of interest
Conflict of interest
A conflict of interest occurs when an individual or organization is involved in multiple interests, one of which could possibly corrupt the motivation for an act in the other....
situation. She was later cleared by a provincial investigation.
Timm-Rudolph served on the provincial Municipal Board after her 1992 defeat. She ran for re-election in 1995
Winnipeg municipal election, 1995
The 1995 Winnipeg municipal election was held on October 25, 1995 to elect a mayor, councillors and school trustees in the city of Winnipeg.Susan Thompson defeated Peter Kaufmann and Terry Duguid in the mayoral contest.-Councillors:...
, and defeated Boychuk in a rematch. During this campaign, she proposed the creation of an auxiliary police force that would take care of simple tasks and allow officers to focus on more important matters. When asked about her political ideology, she responded "dead centre". A subsequent survey of voting patterns in early 1997 found her to be one of council's most independent members, voting with or against Mayor Susan Thompson
Susan Thompson
Susan Ann Thompson was the 40th mayor of Winnipeg, Manitoba. She was the first female to serve as mayor of Winnipeg and served two terms as mayor and held this post from 1992 to 1998.Thompson graduated with a BA from the University of Winnipeg in 1971...
's governing coalition depending on the issue.
Thompson appointed Timm-Rudolph as acting deputy mayor in November 1995, and named her to the executive policy committee (ie. the municipal cabinet) in March 1997. She was initially the chair of the planning and services committee, and was reassigned as chair of the public works committee in November 1997. She voted against a bus fare reduction in 1998, arguing that it would lead to higher property taxes.
Timm-Rudolph was expected to face a difficult re-election contest in 1998
Winnipeg municipal election, 1998
The 1998 Winnipeg municipal election was held on October 28, 1998 to elect a mayor, councillors and school trustees in the city of Winnipeg.Centre-left candidate Glen Murray defeated populist right-winger Peter Kaufmann in the mayoral contest.-Councillors:...
, but instead won without difficulty after Russ Wyatt
Russ Wyatt
Russ Wyatt is a politician in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. He has represented Transcona on the Winnipeg City Council since 2002, and is currently a member of the city's executive policy committee...
, her main opponent, decided to withdraw at the last minute. After the election, she became a prominent figure in the council's unofficial opposition to new mayor Glen Murray. She served on the board of the Winnipeg Convention Centre and remained a member of the public works committee, but was no longer its chair. Timm-Rudolph also served on several national boards in this period, including those of the Federation of Canadian Municipalities
Federation of Canadian Municipalities
The Federation of Canadian Municipalities is a civic advocacy group representing many Canadian municipalities. It is an organization with no formal power but significant ability to influence debate and policy, as it is main national lobby group of mayors, councillors and other elected municipal...
and the Yellowhead Highway. She was a critic of Winnipeg's restrictive anti-smoking legislation, and was one of only two councillors to vote against the 2001 operating budget.
Timm-Rudolph decided not to seek re-election in 2002
Winnipeg municipal election, 2002
The 2002 Winnipeg municipal election was held on October 23, 2002 to elect a mayor, councillors and school trustees in the city of Winnipeg.Glen Murray, the city's centre-left mayor, was re-elected to a second term over challenger Al Golden.-Councillors:...
, saying that she found it different to work with Glen Murray. She indicated that she wanted to start a consulting business and write children's books. She later said that her greatest accomplishment in office was facilitating the construction of a storm water retention basin in southeast Transcona, an area often plagued by flooding.
Mayoral campaign
Timm-Rudolph was one of the first declared candidates for a 2004 mayoral by-election, which was called after Murray resigned to run for the House of Commons. She was initially considered a viable candidate, but did not establish a strong campaign organization. She finished a distant seventh against Sam KatzSam Katz
Samuel Michael Katz, OM is the 42nd mayor of Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. He is also a businessperson and a member of the Order of Manitoba.- Life before mayorship :...
.