Evan H. Potter
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evanhpotter.bsky.social
Evan H. Potter
@evanhpotter.bsky.social
420 followers 38 following 260 posts
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.
Posts Replies Media Videos
Reposted by Evan H. Potter
cultmtl.com
Mark Carney leads Pierre Poilievre in net favourability by 66 points
Mark Carney leads Pierre Poilievre in net favourability by 66 points
Prime Minister Mark Carney leads Conservative Party leader Pierre Poilievre in net favourability by 66 points.
cultmtl.com
February 5, 2026 at 7:24 PM
evanhpotter.bsky.social
My quick take on @neilsara.bsky.social take-no-prisoners assessment of #Ottawa City Hall.

It's sweeping indictment and deserves a response.

@seandevine9.bsky.social @lainejohnson.bsky.social @shawnmenard.bsky.social @arieltroster.com @jleiper.bsky.social

substack.com/@evanhpotter...
Evan Harold Potter (@evanhpotter)
Well, Neil Saravanamuttoo, who is expected to be a candidate for Mayor of Ottawa, is now going Big Game hunting with this salvo against the City of Ottawa, Ottawa’s Biggest Developers, and certain mem...
substack.com
February 6, 2026 at 5:26 PM
evanhpotter.bsky.social
1/2 @neilsara.bsky.social says #Ottawa isn’t run, it’s being rigged by crony network of Big Dev, lobbyists & pliant Council members while residents pay bill.
@kengray20.bsky.social @alexcullen.bsky.social @seandevine9.bsky.social

Who Really Runs Ottawa?
open.substack.com/pub/the613/p...
Who Really Runs Ottawa?
City Hall is broken. Fixing it means taking on the cronies and power brokers who think they own this city.
open.substack.com
February 6, 2026 at 4:51 PM
evanhpotter.bsky.social
Hard launch of @jleiper.bsky.social mayoral pre-official campaign on Feb. 17 & @neilsara.bsky.social unofficial launch create new phase #ottawa election '26. see Note.

It's over to @timtierney.ca for next major move.

@kengray20.bsky.social @seandevine9.bsky.social

substack.com/@evanhpotter...
Evan Harold Potter (@evanhpotter)
The Ottawa Mayoral Campaign just got very interesting. With his first mayoral campaign event on Feb. 17, Kitchissippi Councilor Jeff Leiper’s campaign is finally stirring, though enthusiasm for Leiper...
substack.com
February 4, 2026 at 4:36 PM
evanhpotter.bsky.social
1/2 #ottawa votes '26:
@kengray20.bsky.social sums up:

@jleiper.bsky.social campaign launch-Feb. 17

Will we see @neilsara.bsky.social and @timtierney.ca
on debate stage?

@alexcullen.bsky.social @seandevine9.bsky.social

Leiper’s Campaign Gains Momentum: GRAY bulldogottawa.com/leipers-camp...
photo of Neil Saravanamuttoo and Tim Tierney
February 4, 2026 at 3:48 PM
evanhpotter.bsky.social
1/5 #Ottawa mayoral race drifting toward Sutcliffe 2nd term. Then @neilsara.bsky.social says he'll run — pending sufficient demand.
@kengray20.bsky.social @jleiper.bsky.social

The Maybe Mayoral Candidate: Neil Saravanamuttoo Won’t Run Unless Ottawa Asks Nicely
open.substack.com/pub/cityofot...
The Maybe Mayoral Candidate: Neil Saravanamuttoo Won’t Run Unless Ottawa Asks Nicely
The prospective mayoral candidate says his bottom-up people’s movement can save Ottawa.
open.substack.com
February 2, 2026 at 6:02 PM
evanhpotter.bsky.social
Fixing #ottawa:
@shawnmenard.bsky.social @seandevine9.bsky.social teeing up transit refunds as election issue with traction for @jleiper.bsky.social

Will Leiper seize moment at Council against Mayor on Feb. 11?

Watch @timtierney.ca on debate.

@arieltroster.com

ottawasun.com/news/refunds...
Ottawa city council to debate refunds for frustrated OC Transpo customers
A motion to be debated on Feb. 11 proposes refunds or fare credits for riders who face significant delays or route cancellations.
ottawasun.com
January 30, 2026 at 3:16 PM
evanhpotter.bsky.social
#ottawa votes:
(a) Lawson pollster Quito Maggi confident
(b) @jleiper.bsky.social wants policy debate
(c) Sutcliffe team confident
(d) @neilsara.bsky.social wants 1000
(e) What does @timtierney.ca want?
@kengray20.bsky.social

1,000 People Can Take Back Ottawa
open.substack.com/pub/the613/p...
1,000 People Can Take Back Ottawa
Will you be one of The Thousand? And should I run?
open.substack.com
January 30, 2026 at 1:43 PM
evanhpotter.bsky.social
#ottawa votes 2026:

@neilsara.bsky.social will get 1,000 people to support.

We now have 4-way mayoral race.

@jleiper.bsky.social campaign must adjust.
@timtierney.ca ?

@alexcullen.bsky.social @seandevine9.bsky.social @arieltroster.com @shawnmenard.bsky.social

www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...
Former top McKenney advisor laying groundwork for his own mayoral run | CBC News
The field of candidates planning a run for Ottawa’s mayor could soon have a fourth name, as another potential challenger seeks support to formally launch his campaign.
www.cbc.ca
January 30, 2026 at 1:06 PM
evanhpotter.bsky.social
Compensating commuters directly for public transit failures is innovative.

It's good policy and good politics in election year if City solves transit problem.
@jleiper.bsky.social @lainejohnson.bsky.social @shawnmenard.bsky.social
jleiper.bsky.social Jeff Leiper 🛴🚲🚇♻️🚌📊 @jleiper.bsky.social · 10d
Great news! Councillors Menard and Johnson have brought notice of their intent to ask City Council to vote on developing compensation for OC Transpo riders. I hope residents will talk to their councillor about supporting it!
January 30, 2026 at 1:59 AM
evanhpotter.bsky.social
@kengray20.bsky.social gets at heart of @jleiper.bsky.social versus Mayor & Lawson:
"Sutcliffe has lots of money and, accordingly, lots of signs. Leiper will have some money & many volunteers."
@seandevine9.bsky.social

Alexander Lawson Has An Outside Chance To Win bulldogottawa.com/alexander-la...
Alexander Lawson Has An Outside Chance To Win - THE BULLDOG
It's not because of anything Alexander Lawson has done but he could win this upcoming mayoral election.
bulldogottawa.com
January 28, 2026 at 5:15 PM
evanhpotter.bsky.social
People thinking that comparing 2026 to 2006 3-way mayoral race is off the mark.
Watch Lawson's early moves & also what @timtierney.ca does.
@seandevine9.bsky.social
.
From Larry O’Brien to Alexander Lawson: Will This Become Ottawa’s Favourite Mayoral Plot Twist?
open.substack.com/pub/cityofot...
From Larry O’Brien to Alexander Lawson: Will This Become Ottawa’s Favourite Mayoral Plot Twist?
Alexander Lawson as Mayor of Ottawa may sound unlikely, but nine months of intensive door knocking, careful message testing and polling by his campaign may test this assumption.
open.substack.com
January 26, 2026 at 6:03 PM
evanhpotter.bsky.social
1/5 #ottawa votes '26: Mayor Lawson?

@jleiper.bsky.social supporters welcome contender. New equation for Sutcliffe.
@seandevine9.bsky.social @jchianello.bsky.social

From Larry O’Brien to Alexander Lawson: Will This Become Ottawa’s Favourite Mayoral Plot Twist?
open.substack.com/pub/cityofot...
From Larry O’Brien to Alexander Lawson: Will This Become Ottawa’s Favourite Mayoral Plot Twist?
Alexander Lawson as Mayor of Ottawa may sound unlikely, but nine months of intensive door knocking, careful message testing and polling by his campaign may test this assumption.
open.substack.com
January 26, 2026 at 4:22 PM
evanhpotter.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
January 24, 2026 at 1:41 AM
evanhpotter.bsky.social
#Ottawa votes 2026: @jleiper.bsky.social
happy that Alex Lawson in mayoral race:

A) adds to 'battle of ideas'
B) Leiper's battle less uphill
C) Sutcliffe checks right flank
@kengray20.bsky.social @seandevine9.bsky.social @arieltroster.com @lainejohnson.bsky.social

www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...
Homebuilder plans to run for Ottawa mayor | CBC News
A candidate with the backing of some big political operators plans to enter this year's race to be Ottawa’s mayor.
www.cbc.ca
January 24, 2026 at 12:06 AM
evanhpotter.bsky.social
Transit will show up in polling as major in 2026 election. This will be conversation-starter when candidates hit the doors. Aspiring challengers need to talk about it now.
@seandevine9.bsky.social @jleiper.bsky.social @lainejohnson.bsky.social @arieltroster.com @shawnmenard.bsky.social
seandevine9.bsky.social Sean Devine @seandevine9.bsky.social · 18d
In today’s Ward 9 newsletter we get deep into the problems with OC Transpo bus route 82, easily the biggest transit challenge in Ward 9. My last few trips on the 82 have not worked well. This morning, at least it showed up. 1/
January 20, 2026 at 3:56 PM
evanhpotter.bsky.social
Ottawa Votes: Mayor has large early lead, per Crerar.

BUT, as I will argue in Substack/CityofOttawaPolitics, the ground game will determine winner.
@jleiper.bsky.social @seandevine9.bsky.social @lainejohnson.bsky.social

The Runner Versus The Cyclist: CRERAR bulldogottawa.com/the-runner-v...
The Runner Versus The Cyclist: CRERAR - THE BULLDOG
Mayor Mark Sutcliffe appears to have an early lead over his mayoral opponent Kitchissippi Councillor Jeff Leiper in this year's upcoming municipal election.
bulldogottawa.com
January 18, 2026 at 6:51 PM
evanhpotter.bsky.social
@kengray20.bsky.social has point. #ottcity should stop trying to socially engineer ppl to spend $ in downtown. A privately financed Senators arena district will do trick.
@seandevine9.bsky.social @arieltroster.com
#ottawa

Council ‘Made Too Many Wrong Mistakes’ bulldogottawa.com/council-made...
Council 'Made Too Many Wrong Mistakes' - THE BULLDOG
Too bad Ottawa City Council couldn't have conjured up the ghost of Yogi to advise them before our gifted politicians appointed a night mayor to spur our
bulldogottawa.com
January 17, 2026 at 4:43 PM
evanhpotter.bsky.social
This is long overdue.
@clarkekelly.bsky.social
clarkekelly.bsky.social Clarke Kelly @clarkekelly.bsky.social · 21d
Ditching, drainage, and ditch maintenance has been one of the top issues my office has dealt with in this term of council. I'm pleased to announce that the City has now begun the process of hiring a dedicated coordinator for ditching in rural Ottawa.
www.clarkekelly.ca/post/city-to...
City To Hire Dedicated Coordinator For Ditching and Design in Rural Ottawa
Ditching, drainage, and ditch maintenance has been one of the top issues my office has dealt with throughout this term of council and was key topic discussed during the 2024 Rural Summit.I am now plea...
www.clarkekelly.ca
January 17, 2026 at 2:23 PM
evanhpotter.bsky.social
@seandevine9.bsky.social That Mayor's Office feels no need to delete the post provides a window into their political coms thinking. It simply doesn't matter politically if it raises eyebrows on Council, in media, or in public.
@alexcullen.bsky.social @shawnmenard.bsky.social @jleiper.bsky.social
seandevine9.bsky.social Sean Devine @seandevine9.bsky.social · 22d
This was an interesting op-ed, about an interesting issue. I can understand how the Mayor’s Office may not have known about dubious info source, but it’s surprising that they haven’t deleted the post. I suppose it achieved its objectives, which was to create the impression of accomplishment.
evanhpotter.bsky.social Evan H. Potter @evanhpotter.bsky.social · 22d
@mayormarksutcliffe.bsky.social boasts about "data" from Serbian website ranking #Ottawa #1 livable city.

A. Sutcliffe, a former journalist, didn't check the source.
B. The Mayor's office hasn't removed post.
@jleiper.bsky.social @seandevine9.bsky.social

ottawacitizen.com/news/local-n...
January 16, 2026 at 4:26 PM
evanhpotter.bsky.social
Kudo's to Citizen's Bruce Deachman for his column on @mayormarksutcliffe.bsky.social leveraging what is obviously dubious data to promote #ottawa. See my take on why the Mayor is doing this.
@kengray20.bsky.social @seandevine9.bsky.social @lainejohnson.bsky.social

substack.com/profile/1542...
Evan Harold Potter (@evanhpotter)
Here’s a nice piece by the Citizen’s Bruce Deachman on Mayor Mark Sutcliffe using “data” from a Serbian website to crow about the city of Ottawa being ranked No. 1 in North America for livability. I h...
substack.com
January 16, 2026 at 4:04 PM
evanhpotter.bsky.social
@mayormarksutcliffe.bsky.social boasts about "data" from Serbian website ranking #Ottawa #1 livable city.

A. Sutcliffe, a former journalist, didn't check the source.
B. The Mayor's office hasn't removed post.
@jleiper.bsky.social @seandevine9.bsky.social

ottawacitizen.com/news/local-n...
Deachman: Let's all make up studies about how great Ottawa is
If Mark Sutcliffe wants to boast on X about entirely fabricated data, then I can make up some stuff, too. | Opinion
ottawacitizen.com
January 16, 2026 at 3:10 PM
evanhpotter.bsky.social
#Ottawa Council 2026 will very similar to 2022 Council.

Incumbency is king — almost all Members (20 + Mayor) who run again will win. Maybe 2 real open races. Marty Carr?

But here are changes...
@kengray20.bsky.social @seandevine9.bsky.social @jleiper.bsky.social

www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...
Sea of incumbent councillors planning to seek re-election this year | CBC News
A solid majority of incumbent Ottawa city councillors are planning to stand for re-election this year, with 19 of 24 already eyeing another term.
www.cbc.ca
January 14, 2026 at 7:19 PM
evanhpotter.bsky.social
Challenging a sitting Mayor is daunting.
@jleiper.bsky.social is opening up a line of political attack on state of transit in #ottawa. He's been pulling his political punches, so far. The Mayor hasn't.
@seandevine9.bsky.social @arieltroster.com @lainejohnson.bsky.social @shawnmenard.bsky.social
jleiper.bsky.social Jeff Leiper 🛴🚲🚇♻️🚌📊 @jleiper.bsky.social · 28d
Yesterday's memo on bus cancellations asserts hundreds of millions in new spending that at the end of the day has little to do with cancelled buses. Let's separate the spin from the solutions.
January 13, 2026 at 4:45 PM
Reposted by Evan H. Potter
jleiper.bsky.social
Yesterday's memo on bus cancellations asserts hundreds of millions in new spending that at the end of the day has little to do with cancelled buses. Let's separate the spin from the solutions.
January 10, 2026 at 6:10 PM