Dorothy McCabe seeking Waterloo mayor’s chair in upcoming election

Waterloo will now have a second name to consider on the ballot for the mayor's chair in the upcoming municipal election. 

Dorothy McCabe plans to register her name for the city's top gig Monday morning. 

Incumbent mayor Dave Jaworsky announced Feb. 17 that he will not be seeking a third term, which leaves the race wide open to find the next mayor. 

McCabe has experience working in municipal government already. She held the position of Chief of Staff to the mayor of Kitchener back in 2010. 

“I think being a mayor and leading a city really requires experience,” she said. “The experience in leading community style projects, which I have. I've worked in the municipal sector already, plus provincial. I've had leadership experience in a previous role with KidsAbility. I'm ready to start day one.” 

McCabe is looking for the community's input on what's next for the city. 

“It's not up to me to decide what's next for Waterloo, really. What I want to do is hold forums to have a community conversation,” she said.

“We need to be talking to people from every type of background. It's to really find out what are those big challenges and how are we going to face them together, and also, what are the big opportunities out there for Waterloo.”

She calls Waterloo a “big idea city,” which she hopes she can utilize the community to come up with ideas to help make Waterloo better.

McCabe suggests one of the bigger challenges is the affordability and livability of the city.

“That's something definitely that we need to address. I have some ideas how the city can do that, and we will talk about those as the campaign unfolds.”

She wants to keep pushing the sustainability of the city if she is elected to the mayor's chair Oct. 24.

“2030 and 2050 are deadlines that are coming really quickly and we need to have a city that is sustainable. We need to have a city that is going to be more resilient, in terms of our infrastructure for some of the climate change issues that we are going to face.”

One opportunity that she does wonder about is if the city of Waterloo will become an attractive location for a regional hospital that the province will consider. 

“The province is looking at building a new regional hospital. To date, I haven't really heard anyone talking about Waterloo as a potential location,” she said. 

“I'd like to ask those questions and have those conversations. Is it possible to put a new hospital that would serve our region but also southwestern Ontario in north Waterloo? There is land available and we could connect it with the university and the various faculties there.” 

She said she has been open to running for public office again for quite some time and it's something that she feels very passionate about. 

McCabe last sought public office in the 2018 provincial election, where she lost to current NDP MPP Catherine Fife. 

Shannon Weber is also seeking the city's top gig Oct. 24. Any other candidate who wishes to put their name forward has until Friday to register for the municipal election.