Darrel Kent

Darrel Brock Kent[2] (born October 1942) is a former Ottawa City Councillor. He served on council from 1980 to 1982 and from 1985 to 1991. He ran for mayor of Ottawa in 1982 and for Chair of the Regional Municipality of Ottawa-Carleton in 1991.

Darrel Kent
Ottawa Alderman/City Councillor
In office
1985–1991
Preceded byGreg MacDougall
Succeeded byPeter Hume
ConstituencyAlta Vista Ward
Ottawa Alderman
In office
1980–1982
Preceded byDon Kay
Succeeded byMichael McSweeney
ConstituencyCanterbury Ward
Personal details
Born1942
Political partyProgressive Conservative Party of Canada
Ontario Progressive Conservative Party
Spouse(s)Alia Khan
Residence2650 Southvale Cres, Sheffield Glen (1978)
Florida Ave, Guildwood Estates (1985)
The Riviera, Riverside Dr, Riverview (1989)[1]

Early career

Kent was involved in politics as a student at Carleton University, where he was a member of the Progressive Conservative Party of Canada Student Federation.[3]

Before entering politics, he was an elementary school history teacher at Alta Vista Public School. Kent first ran for city council in 1978 in Alta Vista Ward, but lost to incumbent alderman Don Kay. Kent had been a supporter of Kay's in the previous election, but became disillusioned citing an inattentiveness to projects in the ward and taking an "irresponsible stand" on the Quebec-Ontario construction border war.[4] He ran on a platform on providing services to the Eastway Gardens neighbourhood and turning the CN railway into a rapid transit route.[5] At the time of the election, he was living on Southvale Cres.[6] Kent ended up placing third with 21% of the vote, well behind Kay who won with 49% of the vote.[7]

First term

Kent tried again to unseat Kay in the 1980 municipal election in the newly created Canterbury Ward. During the campaign, Kent cited traffic problems, a buffer around Sheffield Glen, improved day care services and making the NCC green space into an all-age recreation area, and for the NCC to clean up a swampy area behind Eastway Gardens.[8] During the campaign, Kent was the target of election sign vandalism (which resulted in Kay being charged with public mischief) and "hate literature", where pamphlets were handed out with headlines re-arranged in "obscene, sexual ways" and that Kent should be murdered and is a sexual deviate.[9] Kent would go on to defeat Kay, winning 57% of the vote to Kay's 43%.[10]

Following his election, Kent was appointed to the city's policy and priorities committee.[11] In his first term on council (which also gave him a seat on the Ottawa-Carleton Regional Council), Kent supported the re-election of Andrew S. Haydon for regional chair.[12] Kent was a member of the so-called "gang of nine" on city council, a group of conservative-leaning aldermen who would often vote as a majority bloc to curb social spending, against the wishes of the city's left leaning mayor, Marion Dewar.[13]

Mayoral run

On February 26, 1982, Kent announced that he would be challenging Dewar for mayor of the city in the 1982 mayoral election. He had been a vocal critic of Dewar, and played a role in cutting the city's budget for 1982.[14] The main issue of the campaign would be over Dewar's support of an $8.4 million arts centre at the Ottawa Teacher's College, which Kent opposed.[15] Kent would go on to lose to Dewar, winning 44% of the vote to her 52%. The election was also a rebuke of the "conservative tide" that swept into power in the 1980 election as the new council was more left leaning.[16]

Following his defeat, Kent returned to teaching, moving to Manor Park Public School. During this period, he and some other individuals thought of forming a municipal political party to oppose the "influence of the New Democratic Party" in municipal politics.[17] Kent also got involved in federal politics, and was elected as a Joe Clark delegate for the riding of Ottawa—Vanier for the 1983 Progressive Conservative leadership election.[18] He also ran for the nomination for the Tories in Ottawa—Carleton to run in the 1984 Canadian federal election,[19] but lost to Barry Turner on June 26, 1984, 630 votes to 441 on a second ballot.[20]

Second term

After losing his mayoral race, Kent moved to Florida Avenue in neighbouring Alta Vista Ward. In 1985, he entered the race to run for alderman for the ward, which was an open seat, as incumbent Greg MacDougall was retiring.[21] At the time, he was teaching history and geography at Fielding Drive Public School. Kent ran on a platform to make sure green space in the city was preserved, to monitor the "spiralling" costs for the city's rapid bus Transitway, to see an easement of property taxes, and to attract 'clean industry' to the city.[22] On election day, Kent defeated Dylan McGuinty (brother of future Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty) in a close race, winning with 37% of the vote to McGuinty's 34%.[23] Overall, the 1985 election saw a comparatively right-ward shift for the city council, with the election of Jim Durrell as mayor, a past supporter of Kent's.[24] After his election, Kent was appointed to the city's executive committee.[25] While on council - and despite their friendship, Kent led a defeated motion to condemn Durrell for his "unilateral decision" to fight against plans to build a new regional headquarters.[26]

While there was some speculation that Kent would run against Durrell for mayor in the 1988 mayoral election, he opted against it, choosing to run for re-election as alderman.[27] Kent would be acclaimed in his re-election bid, with no candidates running against him. Despite running on a platform of more green spaces in 1985, during the '88 campaign, Kent was optimistic to the building of the "Alta Vista Parkway", a proposal to build a parkway on NCC land to alleviate congestion in the ward (but was never built) [28]

At the beginning of the 1988–1991 term, Kent was seen as "shifting to the middle" on council, in a perceived move to run for mayor in 1991.[29] In 1989, Kent led a 'crusade' denouncing Quebec's Bill 178 French-only law, calling it a "violation of human rights" and suggested the city end its language advisory committee.[30]

While serving on council, Kent ran in the 1990 Ontario general election in Ottawa South for the Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario. He announced he would run after meeting PC leader Mike Harris.[31] Kent was acclaimed as the candidate on August 11.[32] Kent ran on local issues, in addition to the party's pledge to freeze tax-hikes.[33] Future councillor Peter Hume served as his campaign manager. Liberal candidate Dalton McGuinty easily won the seat, with Kent finishing third. While it was seen as a winnable riding for the Tories, it was suggested that many would-be Tories voted Liberal to stop the NDP.[34]

Run for regional chair

Instead of running for mayor, Kent opted to run for Regional Chair in the 1991 Regional elections, the first time there would be a direct election for chair. He decided against running for mayor, as he supported the candidacy of Jacquelin Holzman.[35] Kent ran on a platform of "no more than zero to three per cent" increase in taxes and for the "choking off capital projects".[36] He also supported eliminating the regional government altogether by 1994.[37] Kent also supported instituting light rail under Downtown Ottawa instead of buses, an idea which received a "chilly reception" by OC Transpo commissioners[38] (Ottawa would eventually get a light rail tunnel in 2019). On election day, Kent would finish in third in a close three-way race, with 28% of the vote, losing to Peter D. Clark.

Post politics

Following his loss, Kent became a consultant.[39] He endorsed Peter Clark for Regional Chair in the 1994 Regional elections.[40]

Personal life

Kent is the son of Lieutenant Colonel G. Leighton Kent and Elizabeth LeVernois.[41] Kent married Alia Khan in 1972.[42]

References
  1. Ottawa Citizen, October 13, 1989, pg B3, "Boundary changes recommended for five Ottawa municipal wards"
  2. Ottawa Citizen, March 15, 1982, pg 42, "Birth and Death Notices"
  3. Ottawa Citizen, February 3, 1964, pg 17, "Leader squeaks through in secret student vote"
  4. Ottawa Citizen, July 28, 1978, pg 4, "Former aide to battle Kay"
  5. Ottawa Citizen, November 6, 1978, pg 69, "Aldermanic races"
  6. Ottawa Citizen, October 24, 1978, pg 5, "List of nominations"
  7. Ottawa Citizen, November 15, 1978, pg 6, "Keeping it straight, how candidates faired"
  8. Ottawa Citizen, November 3, 1980, pg 67, "Kent promises new style if elected to city hall"
  9. Ottawa Citizen, November 10, 1980, pg 5, "Kent promises new style if elected to city hall"
  10. Ottawa Citizen, November 11, 1980, pg 49, "Kent's strong campaign beats 18-year veteran Kay"
  11. Ottawa Citizen, December 4, 1980, pg 4, "Kent promises new style if elected to city hall"
  12. Ottawa Citizen, December 11, 1980, pg 3, "Haydon easily wins second term as regional boss"
  13. Ottawa Citizen, November 16, 1981, pg 55, "City hall tyros keep tight rein on purse strings"
  14. Ottawa Citizen, February 27, 1982, pg 1, "Rookie Kent to challenge Dewar for mayor"
  15. Ottawa Citizen, October 6, 1982, pg 73, "Teachers' College focus of election"
  16. Ottawa Citizen, November 9, 1982, pg 1, "Dewar romps over Kent"
  17. Ottawa Citizen, February 10, 1983, pg 21, "Kent toys with idea of political party"
  18. Ottawa Citizen, April 21, 1983, pg 36, "Vanier PCs elect 7 Clark delegates"
  19. Ottawa Citizen, August 29, 1983, pg 15, "Hopefuls eye local ridings"
  20. Ottawa Citizen, June 27, 1984, pg 29, "Duel of the Turners possible matchup in Ottawa-Carleton"
  21. Ottawa Citizen, October 5, 1985, pg A9, "Alta Vista waste plant opposed"
  22. Ottawa Citizen, November 5, 1985, pg E5, "Candidates share opposition to planned incinerator"
  23. Ottawa Citizen, November 13, 1985, pg B2, "A ward-by-ward breakdown of the election results across Ottawa"
  24. Ottawa Citizen, November 16, 1985, pg B6, "Durrell's new council not a swing to right, but the middle"
  25. Ottawa Citizen, December 12, 1985, pg C1, "New Regional Council faces 'tough decisions'"
  26. Ottawa Citizen, November 6, 1986, pg B1, "Council rejects motion condemning Durrell"
  27. Ottawa Citizen, September 13, 1988, pg D3, "Durrell goes for second term"
  28. Ottawa Citizen, November 7, 1988, pg D4, "Acclaimed Kent plans to push Alta Vista Parkway work"
  29. Ottawa Citizen, May 27, 1989, pg B4, "Ottawa City Council: A six-month report card"
  30. Ottawa Citizen, September 7, 1989, pg B4, "Kent plans second run at Quebec's language law"
  31. Ottawa Citizen, August 4, 1990, pg A1, "Ald. Kent to seek Tory nomination in Ottawa South"
  32. Ottawa Citizen, August 12, 1990, pg E8, "Kent contests Ottawa South for PCs"
  33. Ottawa Citizen, September 4, 1990, pg B3, "Trio of top candidates bless riding"
  34. Ottawa Citizen, September 7, 1990, pg B3, "McGuinty easy winner"
  35. Ottawa Citizen, January 11, 1991, pg C1, "Kent wants to head region - and bury it"
  36. Ottawa Citizen, October 16, 1991, pg B8, "Kent pledges to hold line on taxes"
  37. Ottawa Citizen, September 14, 1991, pg A1, "The candidates for regional chair"
  38. Ottawa Citizen, September 5, 1990, pg B6, "Light rail proposal received chilly reception"
  39. Ottawa Citizen, March 3, 1992, pg D2, "The unmaking of a politician"
  40. Ottawa Citizen, November 12, 1994, pg A10, (Ad for Peter Clark)
  41. Ottawa Citizen, February 2, 1977, pg 44, "Birth and Death Notices"
  42. Ottawa Citizen, October 17, 1972, pg 56, "Weddings"
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