Eisenberger will run again, wants to see through LRT and waterfront projects

Hamilton's municipal election is still a year and a half away, and Mayor Fred Eisenberger says he'll run again.

Eisenberger says he wants to see projects like light rail transit (LRT) and Hamilton's new waterfront development come to fruition.

He's not in campaign mode, he said. "I've never focused on elections." But when someone asked him the question on stage at the Hamilton Chamber of Commerce breakfast Wednesday, he answered it.

This term has tested Eisenberger's ability to buildconsensus as he tries to save LRT, a $1 billion project that is the banner issue of his term.

When he was mayor from2006 to 2010, some councillors criticized his inability to build consensus. That didn't seem the case last week, when council cast a surprise 10-5 vote to proceed with the project.

If elected, itwould beEisenberger's third term as mayor, but hisfirst time being elected twice in a row.

He was mayor from 2006 to 2010, then lost to now-MP Bob Bratina. He became mayor again in 2014.

Previously, he served as a Ward 5 alderman and regional councillorfrom 1991 to 2000. He ran for mayor in 2000 and lost to Bob Wade, then spent six years out of politics.Eisenbergeralso ran federally for the Conservatives in Hamilton East-Stoney Creek in 2004, although he told CBC in 2014 that he no longer identifies as a Conservative.

Most of his time away from politics has beenspent doing consulting work around water and wastewater, the environment and urban issues.

The period to file nomination papers for the 2018 municipal election will be fromMay 1 to July 27 of next year.

Eisenberger's term in photos