Evan H. Potter
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evanhpotter.bsky.social
Evan H. Potter
@evanhpotter.bsky.social
270 followers 26 following 170 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
evanhpotter.bsky.social
Canadian electoral campaigns can copy Mamdani campaign but, in the end, most campaign managers will opt for the safe conventional.
@jleiper.bsky.social @neilsara.bsky.social

Zohran Mamdani's campaign proved that design can win the ground game, and an election
open.substack.com/pub/ericblai...
Zohran Mamdani's campaign proved that design can win the ground game, and an election
When every party starts to look the same, design becomes the one of the few levers left to stand out.
open.substack.com
November 9, 2025 at 8:57 PM
evanhpotter.bsky.social
And the #Lansdowne winners are....
See analysis of what this means for mayoral campaigns @jleiper.bsky.social and @mayormarksutcliffe.bsky.social

@seandevine9.bsky.social @lainejohnson.bsky.social @stephanieplante.bsky.social @arieltroster.com

cityofottawapolitics.substack.com/p/and-the-la...
And the Lansdowne 2.0 Winners are… Mark Sutcliffe and Roger Greenberg, with a 15–10 (+/– 1) Final Vote
Fifteen Council votes for Yes. One Nanos Report for No.
cityofottawapolitics.substack.com
November 7, 2025 at 6:43 PM
evanhpotter.bsky.social
What do these two individuals have in common?
One has just won; the other is about to win.

Mamdani Lessons for @jleiper.bsky.social
* free buses
*universal city childcare
*90,000 volunteers
* 3M doors knocked

@neilsara.bsky.social @lainejohnson.bsky.social @shawnmenard.bsky.social
November 5, 2025 at 12:54 PM
evanhpotter.bsky.social
1/2 Great turnout at last night’s @BetterOttawa #Lansdowne event in #Barrhaven.

Turns out #ottawas suburbs do care about Lansdowne.

My view

@shawnmenard.bsky.social @neilsara.bsky.social @jleiper.bsky.social @kengray20.bsky.social @mayormarksutcliffe.bsky.social

substack.com/@evanhpotter...
Evan Harold Potter (@evanhpotter)
Excellent turnout at last night’s BetterOttawa event in Barrhaven to oppose Lansdowne 2.0. So much for “the suburbs don’t care about Lansdowne.” Kudos to Neil Saravanamuttoo for mobilizing Ottawa resi...
substack.com
November 4, 2025 at 10:04 PM
evanhpotter.bsky.social
How @jleiper.bsky.social handles #Lansdowne in next 8 days shows if he’s ready to be mayor. As #ottcity Council’s Opposition Leader, all eyes on how he answers Sutcliffe’s turn to negative campaigning.
@seandevine9.bsky.social @timabray.bsky.social @neilsara.bsky.social @lainejohnson.bsky.social
October 29, 2025 at 2:04 PM
evanhpotter.bsky.social
Why is @mayormarksutcliffe.bsky.social , who has the votes to approve #lansdowne 2.0, accusing community groups, members of Council & experts of spreading 'misinformation'?
This seems very off-brand.
@seandevine9.bsky.social @lainejohnson.bsky.social @shawnmenard.bsky.social @jleiper.bsky.social
October 28, 2025 at 3:09 AM
evanhpotter.bsky.social
1/5 @mayormarksutcliffe.bsky.social
has votes for #Lansdowne 2.0.

Why sudden flurry of pressers & slogans?

My latest Substack column:

@jleiper.bsky.social @seandevine9.bsky.social @lainejohnson.bsky.social @neilsara.bsky.social

cityofottawapolitics.substack.com/p/a-very-cur...
A Very Curious Lansdowne News Conference: "What's Up with the Mayor?"
Mark Sutcliffe's puzzling early Lansdowne victory lap with lots of new talking points
cityofottawapolitics.substack.com
October 27, 2025 at 9:45 PM
Reposted by Evan H. Potter
jleiper.bsky.social
This morning, Mayor Sutcliffe held a press conference outlining the modified Lansdowne 2.0 recommendations before city councillors or the public had access to them. That’s unacceptable. Transparency and respect for Council should come before media rollouts.
October 20, 2025 at 7:22 PM
evanhpotter.bsky.social
1/2 @mayormarksutcliffe.bsky.social won't need victory lap at #lansdowne update
Insiders say it will be approved on Nov. 7 by 14 to 11 or 15 to 10.
@kengray20.bsky.social @seandevine9.bsky.social

Lansdowne 2.0: The Rhetorical Bridge That Needs to be Bombed
open.substack.com/pub/cityofot...
Lansdowne 2.0: The Rhetorical Bridge That Needs to be Bombed
The Lansdowne final vote is a test run for the October 2026 municipal election.
open.substack.com
October 20, 2025 at 2:14 PM
evanhpotter.bsky.social
#BetterOttawa takes on #Lansdowne 2.0
@neilsara.bsky.social video challenges pro #lansdowne Councilors like @timtierney.ca & Cathy Curry @kanatanorth.bsky.social
A model for how @jleiper.bsky.social can talk to Ottawa

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

substack.com/@neilsara/no...
Neil Saravanamuttoo (@neilsara)
The 4 Most Expensive Words in Ottawa's History, and how you can help stop the City wasting half a billion dollars: https://betterottawa.ca/fightlansdowne/
substack.com
October 18, 2025 at 2:04 PM
evanhpotter.bsky.social
@shawnmenard.bsky.social has had enough.

Read his sobering words to City Council in transcript of #Tewin debate.

@neilsara.bsky.social @brigittepellerin.bsky.social
@seandevine9.bsky.social @lainejohnson.bsky.social

Tewin Debate Was Not A Waste: POTTER bulldogottawa.com/tewin-debate...
Tewin Debate Was Not A Waste: POTTER - THE BULLDOG
Local media dutifully reported on the Planning and Housing Committee’s marathon deliberations over Bay Councillor Theresa Kavanagh’s motion to remove the
bulldogottawa.com
October 17, 2025 at 4:45 PM
evanhpotter.bsky.social
#ottcity Election Watch 2026: Campaigns & aligned citizens groups must keep eye on financial reporting.

Third parties will use any financial irregularities to create 'chill effect'.

@kengray20.bsky.social @neilsara.bsky.social @seandevine9.bsky.social #ottawa

www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...
City drops legal action against progressive group | CBC News
The City of Ottawa is no longer pursuing legal action against Horizon Ottawa for alleged breaches of campaign finance rules during the 2022 election.
www.cbc.ca
October 17, 2025 at 3:57 PM
evanhpotter.bsky.social
1/6--5 hrs, 12 councillors, one motion, one reminder: #ottcity Planning & Housing Committee is a house divided.

My latest column

#ottawa

@kengray20.bsky.social @seandevine9.bsky.social @timtierney.ca @neilsara.bsky.social @jleiper.bsky.social

cityofottawapolitics.substack.com/p/councillor...
Councillors Debate Tewin: A Planning and Housing Committee Divided
Councillor Tim Tierney to colleagues: "get off your pulpits and stop with ideology and focus on what we're trying to achieve."
cityofottawapolitics.substack.com
October 16, 2025 at 7:43 PM
evanhpotter.bsky.social
1/3 Favourite #ottcity strategic coms tradition: dropping #Lansdowne 2.0 news release at 4:15 p.m. on Friday before Thanksgiving. Quelle surprise.

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

City Puts Out Lansdowne Trash Late Friday bulldogottawa.com/city-puts-ou...
City Puts Out Lansdowne Trash Late Friday - THE BULLDOG
Announcing all the vital Lansdowne meetings in a press release late Friday afternoon is a classic case of the Sutcliffe city administration putting out the
bulldogottawa.com
October 12, 2025 at 4:11 PM
evanhpotter.bsky.social
1/7 In my latest column I call on @seandevine9.bsky.social & following Councilors to stand their ground:
@rawlson.bsky.social @riverwardriley.bsky.social @shawnmenard.bsky.social @lainejohnson.bsky.social @jleiper.bsky.social @arieltroster.com

cityofottawapolitics.substack.com/p/lansdowne-...
Lansdowne 2.0: The Opportunity Costs We'll Feel Every Day
Or: How we've been told to stop worrying, close our eyes, and just say "Yes"
cityofottawapolitics.substack.com
October 7, 2025 at 6:23 PM
evanhpotter.bsky.social
🧵1/4 Ontario seals #Lansdowne 2.0 deal for @mayormarksutcliffe.bsky.social even if Mayor doesn’t need new $ to get #Lansdowne approved.

It’s political icing on cake.

@kengray20.bsky.social @neilsara.bsky.social @jleiper.bsky.social @seandevine9.bsky.social

www.ctvnews.ca/ottawa/artic...
Ottawa could apply for provincial funding to build Lansdowne 2.0, minister said
The City of Ottawa could apply for provincial funding to help build the Lansdowne 2.0 project, according to Ontario’s minister of sport.
www.ctvnews.ca
October 6, 2025 at 8:26 PM
evanhpotter.bsky.social
1/6 Wilson Lo isn’t your average #ottawa councillor. Former OC Transpo bus driver. But on Lansdowne 2.0 He’s starting to look less like a maverick.
@neilsara.bsky.social @jleiper.bsky.social @lainejohnson.bsky.social @seandevine9.bsky.social

cityofottawapolitics.substack.com/p/the-unbear...
The Unbearable Lightness of Being Wilson Lo: Will He or Won't He?
On Sprung structures, Lansdowne 2.0, and deciding whether you want to be a political maverick.
cityofottawapolitics.substack.com
October 1, 2025 at 10:00 PM
evanhpotter.bsky.social
#ottawa residents deserve a competitive mayoral race.
@jleiper.bsky.social is
Council's "Leader of the Official Opposition" and taking his message to all wards. Here's his possible path.
cityofottawapolitics.substack.com/p/along-a-na...

@neilsara.bsky.social @seandevine9.bsky.social
September 30, 2025 at 8:31 PM
evanhpotter.bsky.social
Check out weekly BetterOttawa with @neilsara.bsky.social Municipal Panel podcast. It's first-class.
Panel discusses timing of Back-to-Office and Lansdowne votes. www.youtube.com/watch?v=t3WH...

@jleiper.bsky.social @seandevine9.bsky.social @shawnmenard.bsky.social

substack.com/@evanhpotter...
Evan Harold Potter (@evanhpotter)
I receive the Mayor’s newsletter. In his latest edition he highlights the economic benefits of Lansdowne 2.0. I have embedded my editorial comment in this ‘Bro talk’ image of the Mayor and Premier For...
substack.com
September 28, 2025 at 8:02 PM
evanhpotter.bsky.social
1/3 Mayor's newsletter:
"I had a chance to take ... Doug Ford on a tour of Lansdowne Park and show him our exciting plans for Lansdowne 2.0."

My comments follow:
#ottawa #ottpoli @kengray20.bsky.social
@seandevine9.bsky.social @lainejohnson.bsky.social @rawlson.bsky.social @jleiper.bsky.social
September 28, 2025 at 3:32 PM
evanhpotter.bsky.social
🧵1/8 Ben asks if #Lansdowne 2.0 is litmus test for 2026 election. Major test for Sutcliffe & @jleiper.bsky.social
Mayor already has 12 Yes votes to win. Unintended effects?
@neilsara.bsky.social @seandevine9.bsky.social

Lansdowne’s The Big Mayoral Test: BENN bulldogottawa.com/lansdownes-t...
Lansdowne's The Big Mayoral Test: BENN - THE BULLDOG
Is the upcoming Lansdowne 2.0 vote a litmus test for next year’s mayoral election?
bulldogottawa.com
September 28, 2025 at 2:46 AM
evanhpotter.bsky.social
1/5 Mike Patton says that Mayor Sutcliffe is on cusp of having his 12 Lansdowne votes. I argue that he already has them.

@seandevine9.bsky.social @riverwardriley.bsky.social

cityofottawapolitics.substack.com/p/lansdowne-...

Lansdowne 2.0 Is On The Cusp: PATTON bulldogottawa.com/lansdowne-2-...
Lansdowne 2.0 Is On The Cusp: PATTON - THE BULLDOG
It has been taken as a given that Lansdowne 2.0 would be approved by Ottawa City Council.
bulldogottawa.com
September 27, 2025 at 3:06 PM
evanhpotter.bsky.social
This short speech may mark the 'official' beginning of @jleiper.bsky.social campaign in the pre-campaign period.

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

Leiper Campaign Speech No. 1? POTTER bulldogottawa.com/leiper-campa...
Leiper Campaign Speech No. 1? POTTER - THE BULLDOG
uOttawa Professor Evan Potter wonders if this is the start of Kitchissippi Councillor Jeff Leiper's mayoral election campaign.
bulldogottawa.com
September 26, 2025 at 12:01 AM
evanhpotter.bsky.social
Today, @jleiper.bsky.social sounded like he was giving his first campaign speech. He's laying ground for his 'Mayor-for-all-of-Ottawa vision. He must prosecute his case in suburbs with this intensity to reduce Mayor's margins.

@arieltroster.com @seandevine9.bsky.social @riverwardriley.bsky.social
jleiper.bsky.social Jeff Leiper 🛴🚲🚇♻️🚌📊 @jleiper.bsky.social · Sep 24
Today, Council debated my motion on the City’s return-to-office policy. In August, the City Manager announced that all staff would be required to work five days a week in the office starting January 1. I introduced a motion to rescind that plan and keep hybrid work in place.
Ariel Troster and Jeff at a rally to oppose a 5-day-a-week RTO policy at the City.
September 25, 2025 at 1:47 AM
evanhpotter.bsky.social
@kanatanorth.bsky.social Curry check-mated @jleiper.bsky.social on 5-day-office-policy. Didn't Leiper see this coming? I think HR is purview of City Manager, but politically Leiper had to win.
@kengray20.bsky.social @shawnmenard.bsky.social @seandevine9.bsky.social

www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...
Council stands by city manager on 5-day office policy | CBC News
City council has voted to leave a controversial return-to-office policy for municipal employees in place, brushing aside a motion that would have reversed it.
www.cbc.ca
September 24, 2025 at 7:41 PM