By Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator, Tuesday May 22, 2012
The forever mayor: Bratina looking ahead to 2014
On the previous city council, it was Tom Jackson who stepped up to compensate for Mayor Fred Eisenberger’s ceremonial and directional deficiencies, particularly during his unsteady early days.
This time around, in the absence of strong political leadership from Mayor Bob Bratina, it looks as if Sam Merulla may be fulfilling the role of shadow mayor.
While Bratina is consistently missing in action on the council floor, Merulla is increasingly taking a leading part in setting the agenda with motions, proposals, and initiatives. Andrew Dreschel column.
Meanwhile, Mayor Bob Bratina is eyeing a second term in office.
Bratina told the crowd at a Bulldogs Foundation fundraising dinner this week that he will usurp Bob Morrow’s record as the city’s longest-serving mayor.
He added that he’ll continue to push his agenda regardless of the “unnecessary criticism” by “uninformed” people” that has been levelled against him over the past year.
“Nobody is going to stop me,” he said.
In an email to The Spectator Thursday, Bratina said he attended “a great community fund-raising event as guest of honour.”
“Hamilton’s longest serving mayor Bob Morrow paid me the honour of emceeing the evening, and included some very positive and encouraging statements about my performance in the mayor’s office,” Bratina wrote. (Source: Hamilton Spectator)