The Londoner - January 30, 2014

Poor Devon has a black eye in this photo...still learning to walk!

The Londoner

Thursday, January 30, 2014

Mr. Jim For Mayor

An artist, paratransit and bus driver, Jim Kogelheide wants to add London mayor to his list of job titles.

“I believe that London needs a leader that has altruistic values and a vision for our future, and I haven’t seen examples of that type of leadership in our community for many years.  I believe that I’m ready to take on that role, and I have a vision to enhance the community that will benefit everyone, rather than focusing on the rich.  Everyone has values to add (to the community) whatever their background, social status or the situation that they’re in,” explains Kogelheide.

Having lived in the Forest City since 2004, Kogelheide initially moved to London to attend Fanshawe College, to study interior design in 1993, after completing an architectural program at George Brown College.

After a short stint as a freelance architectural designer, Kogelheide decided to concentrate on his art and travelled across the country working with municipal governments and school boards, piloting ‘Art for Earth’ projects.  Having worked in more traditional media, he now expresses his artistic vision through making videos.  “I put the paint brush down and now use a video camera to create expressions of art with the same message of green urbanism and sustainability.”

For the past five years, he’s worked as a bus driver and presently transports students to and from St. Anthony’s Catholic French Immersion School and Westminster Secondary School on what he calls ‘ThePeacebus’.  Students are encouraged to do art promoting peace and green living.  Kogelheide hangs their art in the bus which he says he’ll miss if he’s elected.

“The high school students ask me, ‘Mr. Jim are you going to drive us to school in the morning and run the city in the afternoon?’” chuckles Kogelheide, but he acknowledges that delivering on his vision of green urbanism for the City of London will be a full-time job and a challenge in a municipality beset by a recent litany of job losses.

When asked about his experience as a politician, Kogelheide answers, “I have no experience at lying and cheating.  This is my first time in the political arena, but I’ve been a leader for my entire life.”

When not busy campaigning or driving, the 43 year old Kogelheide spends time with his wife Joanne Custy and two year old son, Devon.  Avid gardeners, canning and preserving vegetable and fruit also are favourite activities for the family.

Rather than a budget of $100, 000 that many say it takes to run a mayoral campaign, Kogelheide says he has a budget of $40 per month, relying on messaging on his website to raise awareness among voters.

He also plans to launch shows this autumn at several London Library locations, featuring work that spans his nearly two decades as an artist. “Tens of thousands of people will see my artwork and campaign information at the exhibitions and that will be more successful than having my name on lawn signs.  As an artist, I’m bearing my soul to the world and that’s a deeper perspective of what and who I am.  Voters will know me better through viewing my artwork.”