Sudds courts tech community in run for Kanata North councillor

Wilkinson announces retirement, backs Sudds as her successor

With some high tech execs and the incumbent councillor in her corner, Jenna Sudds officially put her name into the race to represent Kanata North in the fall’s coming municipal election.

OBJ first broke the news yesterday that the inaugural executive director of the Kanata North Business Association would seek to replace Marianne Wilkinson as the ward’s councillor.

Sudds made it official at Wilkinson’s annual International Women’s Day breakfast, where the veteran politician announced she’d be retiring later this year. In a statement, Wilkinson championed Sudds as her successor, citing her involvement with KNBIA and the the Kanata Food Cupboard as proof of her community commitment.

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“I fully endorse Jenna in becoming our next Kanata North councillor,” she concluded.

Sudds, who will remain in her current role as executive director of the Government of Canada’s CIO Strategy Council, also courted support from Kanata’s tech community. Mitel vice-president Amy MacLeod and Calian Group CEO Kevin Ford added their statements to Sudds’ announcement.

“Jenna has my full support to take on the Kanata North councillor role. She is passionate about the community, and I have seen her personal commitment to making Kanata North a better place to live and work,” said Ford.

For Sudds herself, she says the the decision to run for councillor is about serving her community as best she can.

“I am dedicated to putting in the hard work necessary to ensure our community continues to thrive, and our residents’ issues are heard and represented,” she said in a statement.

Former Ottawa Champions president David Gourlay will also contest for the seat in the Oct. 22 election.

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