15 Reasons Jim Watson Is An Awesome Mayor

Jim Watson is the Mayor of Ottawa, Ontario in Canada. He is amongst Calgary’s Mayor Nenshi-tier of municipal leaders — showing that politicians can be cool.

15. Jimsons shirts

… Yes, this is a thing.

He’s the still the Mayor — don’t worry — he’s just Simpson-ified. As they say, if you can’t laugh at yourself…

14. He wrote this note

ca.news.yahoo.com / Via ca.news.yahoo.com

Chloe skipped school to visit city hall. Mayor Jim Watson wrote her a note to explain the absence. Evidently, Chloe had to have an important meeting with the Mayor and Deputy Mayor… and should be given less homework. Guess what the Principal did? HE REDUCED HER HOMEWORK. Why? They listen to the Mayor. Few online believed he really wrote it until he confirmed it.

C’mon… That’s cool.

(Source, and to see more: http://yhoo.it/1CnY7QP.)

13. He’s on Vine

vine.co / Via storify.com

See Jim on Vine here.

Take a look at his day on Vine: http://bit.ly/1w4fstz

12. Finally got shovels in the ground for light rail

jimwatsonottawa.ca / Via jimwatsonottawa.ca

Mayor Watson's transit plan would see LRT extend to Orleans, Bayshore, Algonquin College and Riverside South, finally, and turn us more towards a faster-paced, modern capital city.

11. He is Jim Watson - King of the #TBT

Jim Watson Campaign / Via instagram.com

He has a stockpile of sweet #TBT photos with cool people he’s met.

10. He listens to the right people

centretownbuzz.com / Via ottawa.ca

He let grade school students name the three LRT tunnel boring machines.

…. The names they came up with?

Jawbreaker, Crocodile Rouge and CHEWROCKA!

#WinnerGagnant

9. He rocked the #ALSIceBucketChallenge

CTV Ottawa Morning LIve / Via instagram.com

I’d make a pun, but all I can come up with is that he’s a chill guy. And nobody need be put through a pun that bad.

8. He gives great advice

Live http://88.5 / Via youtube.com

There are 10+ of them now. And they’re all gold. Absolute gold.

7. He’s a betting man

ottawa.ctvnews.ca / Via ottawa.ctvnews.ca

He’s taken on other Mayors in past, particularly over hockey, including Mayor Gregor Robertson of Vancouver, former interim Mayor of Montréal Michael Applebaum, and even Mayor Bloomberg of New York. He also bet US Ambassador to Canada once. He wins some, he loses some.

However, he’s willing to put his personal pride on the line for Ottawa’s home team — that’s leadership.

6. Quips Ahoy!

Via ottawacitizen.com

He recently told a mayoral contender what he thought of his position(s) on transit:

“You’ve had more positions on this than a yoga instructor.”

Uhhh….

5. He did an AMA

Via reddit.com

He’s all over the Reddit.

See here: http://bit.ly/1q8YEkU.

4. He says he’s a #BoringMayor, but we know he’s anything but.

3. This

These things are all over town. They go like wildfire at events. First with the Simpsons, then he one-ups it with South Park character Jim Watson stickers.

2. Party advice from your Mayor, again. It’s just that good.

Via youtube.com

And there’s more! Get to the google, Batman!

1. He’s good at the Twitter

He raised the Pride Flag in Ottawa, in light of the Russian Olympics controversy over their LGBTTQ oppression. When one critic tweeted back to him to let them know what they thought of that, he returned the favour — in the best way.

Via obj.ca

Note: Boom goes the dynamite.

And here's a BONUS one because you went out and re-elected him on October 27, 2014!

Boom http://99.7 / Via Facebook: boom99.7