Council rookie Sherri Rollins joins Mayor Brian Bowman's inner circle

Councillor-electSherri Rollins has joined Mayor Brian Bowman's inner circle as the newest member of city council's executive policy committee.

Rollins, who will become the rookiecouncillorfor Fort Rouge-East Fort Garrywhen she's sworn in on Tuesday evening, is the only new member of the most powerful council committee at city hall.

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The NDP-affiliatedformer Winnipeg School Division trustee assumes the spot on EPC vacated by former Point Douglas councillor Mike Pagtakhan, who retired from council after 16 years. She will serve as protection and community serviceschair, which also was Pagtakhan'sold job.

"I'm really humbled to be on EPC. I ran to be a protective ward voice, but also play a city-wide role," Rollins said at city hall on Monday after Bowman announced the composition of the new EPC.

"Politics is, of course, a team sport and I'm really honoured to be on EPC and really honoured to be elected in the first place."

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All five other members ofEPCfrom the last council term will be returning.Coun. ScottGillingham(St. James) will resume his duties as council's finance chair, whileCoun. MattAllard(St, Boniface)will continue to serve aspublic works chair.

Coun. CindyGilroy(Daniel McIntyre) has been promoted from innovation chair to become council's water and waste chair, replacingCoun. BrianMayes(St. Vital), who will become council's new property chair.

MayesreplacesCoun. JohnOrlikow(River Heights-Fort Garry), who will take onGilroy'sold job as council'sinnovationchair.

Bowman also granted titlesto members of council who will not sit on executive policy committee.

St. Norbert-Seine River councillor-elect Markus Chambers will be Winnipeg's new deputy mayor. The rookie councillor will replace former Fort Rouge councillor Jenny Gerbasi, who resigned after 20 years.

Vivian Santos appointed role of acting deputy mayor

6 years ago

Duration 2:16

Winnipeg mayor Brian Bowman kicks off his second term by appointing a new executive policy committee.

Bowman also named Point Douglas councillor-elect Vivian Santos to the role of acting deputy mayor.

Both of the roles are primarily ceremonial, but also have a political purpose. Bowman saidSantos and Chambers will meet behind closed doors with EPC members.

In effect, the two rookie councillors will join EPC as a new version of EPC+ 2, the informal governing body at city hall.

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During the last term at city hall, this informal group effectively determined the fate of votes on the floor of council, as only nine votes are needed to pass most legislation in the 16-member chamber.

Monday's appointments also increase the diversity of EPC+ 2. Rollins, who identifies as Huron-Wendat, will become the second Indigenous member of EPC. Mayor Bowman identifies as Mtis.

Chambers is the first black councillor to be elected in Winnipeg, while Santos is Chinese-Canadian.