Sergey Kuznetsov will take part in the elections for the mayor of Novokuznetsk

In Novokuznetsk (Kemerovo region), the acceptance of notifications of intention to participate in the mayoral elections has ended. "United Russia" nominated the current acting candidate. O. mayor Sergei Kuznetsov, who is the undisputed favorite of the election campaign. However, the experience of local self-government in Kuzbass indicates that the stability of the mayor’s position depends no longer on the mood of voters, but on the nature of his relationship with the regional authorities, headed by Governor Aman Tuleyev.

The support of Governor Aman Tuleyev does not guarantee Sergei Kuznetsov, the favorite in the elections for the mayor of Novokuznetsk, a quiet life if elected
Photo: Efim Krepysh, Kommersant

Last Friday evening, the Novokuznetsk City Election Commission completed accepting notifications from potential candidates for the post of mayor of the largest city of Kuzbass. As Kommersant reported, early elections for the mayor were scheduled for September 8, since the current head of the city, Valery Smolego, resigned early. This happened at the end of May, after Governor Aman Tuleyev harshly criticized his methods and results of managing the municipality.

In total, six people expressed their intention to become mayor of the city of 540,000 people. The first to notify the commission about this was 27-year-old Igor Ukraintsev, an assistant to LDPR leader Vladimir Zhirinovsky. Two more parties nominated their candidates. "United Russia" proposed for this post and. O. Mayor Sergei Kuznetsov, and “Rodina” - 42-year-old native of Novokuznetsk, professor at the Higher School of Economics and former employee of the Russian Presidential Administration Oleg Matveichev.

The three other candidates are self-nominated candidates. Among them is the head of the department of industry, transport and entrepreneurship of the Kemerovo region Sergei Karpunkin. This is a former subordinate of Mr. Kuznetsov. The last one before approval is June 4th and... O. The mayor worked as vice-governor for industry, transport and entrepreneurship, and the industrial department was under his jurisdiction. On this basis, observers concluded that Mr. Karpunkin is a “understudy” for Sergei Kuznetsov, necessary in case the remaining candidates withdraw their candidacies and the elections themselves are in jeopardy.

Self-nominated Viktor Smirnov, who heads the Legal Services Center LLC, is known in Novokuznetsk for his exposure of corruption in Sergei Martin’s team. The mayor, who headed the city in 1997-2010, resigned, and is now a defendant in a trial in the Prokopyevsk city court: he is accused of exceeding official powers, resulting in grave consequences. Less is known about Nikolai Smirnov, who is temporarily unemployed. He was reported in the city press as an activist advocating for establishing order in attracting guest workers from neighboring countries. Self-nominated candidates will have to collect 2,101 signatures from Novokuznetsk residents in their support (0.5% of city voters) by July 29.

Sergey Kuznetsov looks like the clear favorite of the campaign. Moreover, a number of opposition parties will not participate in these elections. As Galina Verevkina, chairman of the Kemerovo regional branch of Yabloko, explained, the party organization was unable to find a worthy candidate for whom they could vouch. In turn, Leonid Burakov, secretary of the Novokuznetsk city committee of the Communist Party of the Russian Federation, told Kommersant that the communists decided to rely on elections to the regional council, which will be held simultaneously with the elections of the mayor.

However, in the Kemerovo region, party support and even the support of the overwhelming majority of voters do not mean everything for municipal leaders. A lot depends on the nature of the mayor’s relationship with the regional authorities. In the last 15 years, people have been elected to the head of local government, with rare exceptions, only with the support of Governor Aman Tuleyev. But such help does not guarantee a quiet life. In his next election for the mayor of Novokuznetsk in 2006, Mr. Martin won about 76% of the vote, but in April 2010 he left the post after criticizing the governor. Mr. Smolego received more than 80% in the 2010 elections.

The city electoral commission will form a list of candidates in three weeks - after collecting signatures from self-nominated candidates and checking the documents of the applicants.

Igor Lavrenkov, Kemerovo

Appointment is changed to election