Tarasoff first to announce plans to run for mayor in next Saskatoon election

The first mayoral candidate for Saskatoon’s election this fall has been announced.

On Monday, Cary Tarasoff announced his candidacy in a social media video, stating he picked April Fool’s Day because Saskatoon residents have “been fooled for seven and a half years.”

“The taxpayers of Saskatoon are just a bottomless pit of money that doesn’t really benefit your lives,” he said.

I announce my intention to run for Mayor of Saskatoon. I promise to dig into all aspects of our City operations to find where there is success, and where there are failure and waste. @MattYoungCTV @evanbrayshow @thinktankSK @GlobalSaskatoon @DTNYXE @nsbasask @thechamberyxe pic.twitter.com/tIjn0tffQD

— Cary Tarasoff 🇺🇦🇨🇦 (@carytarasoffyxe) April 1, 2024

The former military officer, who was born in Saskatoon, runs a blog vocalizing his stance on property taxes and cutting big expenditures in the city.

“I promise to dig into all aspects of our City operations to find where there is success, and where there are failure and waste,” Tarasoff’s post read.

The 2020 election was Tarasoff’s first time running for public office, and he finished a distant fourth with 2,650 votes. Mayor Charlie Clark secured the spot with 27,377 votes.

Tarasoff’s announcement comes after Clark announced in January that he is not planning to run again.

His reasoning behind the decision was to spend more time with family and that it’s time for a new life chapter after 18 years on city council.

The last time a Saskatoon election was conducted without an incumbent mayor running was in 1988.

The next municipal election is set to take place on Nov 13.