Evan H. Potter
@evanhpotter
Assoc. Professor of Communication University of Ottawa Art & science of persuasion: Strategic Coms, PR, Information Warfare, Government Coms, Political Coms, Place Branding, Public Diplomacy, Cultural Statecraft.
Is @jleiper.bsky.social connecting with the broader Ottawa electorate? @brigittepellerin.bsky.social shares a very balanced perspective with me during our weekly chat. I wonder what Leiper's fellow Councillors think?
Nerding out on the Ottawa election campaign trail. @brigittepellerin.bsky.social and I discuss my recent visit to a @neilsara.bsky.social event.
Lisa MacLeod tells @kengray20.bsky.social on LinkedIn that Mayor has lost her support for 2026 race. A breadcrumb into her thinking. CBC/CTV radio & TV will likely only cover her if she files her nomination papers. If she does, it's new race. @neilsara.bsky.social @shawnmenard.bsky.social
Things change: Lisa MacLeod's full endorsement of M. Sutcliffe in early Oct 2022. Does she now have team to unseat him in 90 days? Which prominent people will endorse her? Will Sutcliffe aligned personality discourage her? @kegli.bsky.social @shawnmenard.bsky.social @seandevine9.bsky.social
Will She (Lisa MacLeod) or Won't She? @brigittepellerin.bsky.social & I tackle what's either a political tease or real thing in our weekly campaign chat. MacLeod has until Aug 21 to make up her mind. @seandevine9.bsky.social @lainejohnson.bsky.social @shawnmenard.bsky.social
Why is M. Sutcliffe trying to scare voters by calling @jleiper.bsky.social 'far-left'? a) did it to McKenney-2022 b) disappearing coalition c) avoids discussing transit d) all of above convo w. @brigittepellerin.bsky.social @shawnmenard.bsky.social @seandevine9.bsky.social @arieltroster.com
Mark Sutcliffe's positions Alex Lawson, @jleiper.bsky.social & @neilsara.bsky.social as extreme candidates. He wants an ideological campaign. We'll see if members of his own Council agree. @kengray20.bsky.social @shawnmenard.bsky.social @seandevine9.bsky.social @lainejohnson.bsky.social
No warning, no communications. @brigittepellerin.bsky.social & I talk about how #Ottawa City Hall communicates with residents on fireworks & everything else. @jleiper.bsky.social wants overhaul @shawnmenard.bsky.social @seandevine9.bsky.social @lainejohnson.bsky.social @arieltroster.com
Message from @lainejohnson.bsky.social on seriousness of recent flooding. 5500 flooded homes one of worst emergencies in city's history Review necessary. @jleiper.bsky.social @seandevine9.bsky.social @lainejohnson.bsky.social @shawnmenard.bsky.social
Polymarket not crystal balling #Ottawa election. it's pricing today's info: incumbency, candidate comms, local media, campaign visibility & attendance, internal/public polls, whether Council members see Sutcliffe win. @shawnmenard.bsky.social @seandevine9.bsky.social @lainejohnson.bsky.social
Is this start of 3-way race for Ottawa Mayor? Implications: Who will endorse whom on Council? Stay neutral? What will @horizonottawa.bsky.social do? Who is kingmaker? @jleiper.bsky.social @seandevine9.bsky.social @shawnmenard.bsky.social @lainejohnson.bsky.social substack.com/profile/1542...
The Mayor's key campaign message -- for now -- is that current Council "made progress" based on "dysfunctional" Watson Council. But how do you feel if you're a Councillor from Watson years? I guess you're now part of the Mayor's projection of progress. @kengray20.bsky.social
Pollster David Coletto reminding Mainstreet that it got the 2022 election wrong. Fact: 25% of Ottawa is Blue. Alex Lawson has only 1 job: crack Sutcliffe’s Conservative base in West Ottawa, which is happening, and make significant inroads in South Ottawa. @jleiper.bsky.social can watch.
#Ottawa election '26: @andyburnham.bsky.social is Mayor of Greater Manchester & may become UK PM. Which Mayoral candidate is channeling Burnham? Alex Lawson is trying to channel populist agenda from Right. @jleiper.bsky.social @neilsara.bsky.social @brigittepellerin.bsky.social
@kengray20.bsky.social observes in Bulldog that transit may become Mayor Sutcliffe’s biggest vulnerability. The AG report, the O-Train chaos, congestion. So why isn’t @jleiper.bsky.social holding news conference? @seandevine9.bsky.social @lainejohnson.bsky.social substack.com/@evanhpotter...
3/3 @jleiper.bsky.social is fighting Mayor's "spin" @neilsara.bsky.social wants city-wide policy debate Alex Lawson talks crime Meanwhile, @mayormarksutcliffe.bsky.social always closing political sale with suburban voters. Who's going to win? @seandevine9.bsky.social @lainejohnson.bsky.social
@brigittepellerin.bsky.social skewers Sutcliffe’s “new” ByWard Market Action Plan Same promises as 2021 City doc. @jleiper.bsky.social appears silent. @seandevine9.bsky.social more willing to tangle with Mayor. @neilsara.bsky.social @lainejohnson.bsky.social substack.com/@evanhpotter...
#Ottawa Election & use of logos by Council members. See Sutcliffe logo on bottom right; see City of Ottawa logo. This primer on Byward Market is branded as Mayor's document. @neilsara.bsky.social @jleiper.bsky.social @seandevine9.bsky.social @kengray20.bsky.social @lainejohnson.bsky.social
2/2 Very photogenic gentlemen. @neilsara.bsky.social & Alex Lawson opened door for @timtierney.ca to declare for mayor. @shawnmenard.bsky.social @arieltroster.com @riverwardriley.bsky.social @lainejohnson.bsky.social @catmckenney.bsky.social @jleiper.bsky.social @clarkekelly.bsky.social
Wow. We're at stage of @mayormarksutcliffe.bsky.social featuring daughter in skating video. He's proud Dad. But his videos stray obviously across line in election year that I admire his chutzpah. Can't see @jleiper.bsky.social doing this. @kengray20.bsky.social @seandevine9.bsky.social #ottawa
1/2 Election 2026--thought experiment. I’ve taken @jleiper.bsky.social New Year’s Statement & rewritten it in voice of #zohranmamdani. Same ideas & words but different rhythm. Not Leiper’s style, you say? Ok, I get that. but.. @seandevine9.bsky.social @lainejohnson.bsky.social @arieltroster.com
@mayormarksutcliffe.bsky.social "Mayor's update” newsletter looks like glossy election poster — SAFE, RELIABLE, AFFORDABLE. Mayor is "Council Member of 2025" @jleiper.bsky.social @lainejohnson.bsky.social @seandevine9.bsky.social #ottawa cityofottawapolitics.substack.com/p/ottawa-cou...
2/6 #Lansdowne 2.0 was Council's biggest political win and biggest political loss: @mayormarksutcliffe.bsky.social signature victory, civil society’s organizing moment, and a case study in how to turn “public engagement” into public alienation. @seandevine9.bsky.social @lainejohnson.bsky.social
#Ottawa City Council won't change much after 2026 election. @shawnmenard.bsky.social team door-knocked me. Asked me what's on my mind. Dropped well designed brochure. All Councilors doing same. Most if not all will be re-elected @jleiper.bsky.social @seandevine9.bsky.social @arieltroster.com
1/2 @mayormarksutcliffe.bsky.social had Good Messaging Week on Budget & 🏠 BetterOttawa MUNI Panel says Mayor's coms is working: 'balanced' approach, 'support from across ideology & geography'. Panel gives coms advice to @jleiper.bsky.social @jchianello.bsky.social @neilsara.bsky.social
2/5 Some insiders now see #Ottawa 2026 election as done-deal with most incumbents re-elected. But maybe not in #Osgoode ward. It could turn into real contest. @jleiper.bsky.social @lainejohnson.bsky.social @clarkekelly.bsky.social @mayormarksutcliffe.bsky.social #ottpoli
See @mayormarksutcliffe.bsky.social post on X below. His core election campaign messaging: *Affordability *Safety * Reliability @jleiper.bsky.social must show strong contrast in his affordability/safety messaging. @jchianello.bsky.social @seandevine9.bsky.social @arieltroster.com #ottawa
This weekend's op-ed by @timtierney.ca kicks off what's obvious. The political gloves off at #ottawa Council. Here are imperfect renderings of @seandevine9.bsky.social and @arieltroster.com @jleiper.bsky.social cannot be a bystander. @shawnmenard.bsky.social @lainejohnson.bsky.social
1/5 #Lansdowne 2.0 goes national. When @theglobeandmail.com writes editorial takedown of @mayormarksutcliffe.bsky.social & 14 Councilors about their “Hail Mary” financing plan, it’s warning to all. @jchianello.bsky.social @neilsara.bsky.social @seandevine9.bsky.social @jleiper.bsky.social
@mayormarksutcliffe.bsky.social posting very campaign-like videos on X in which delivers 'low tax' message. His team says this gets him a second term. @neilsara.bsky.social @kengray20.bsky.social @seandevine9.bsky.social @lainejohnson.bsky.social @shawnmenard.bsky.social @jleiper.bsky.social