Russ Wyatt has officially registered for the municipal election next month. The current Transcona councillor announced Monday that “after much reflection” he will seek re-election in October. “In this past term I have continued to be a thorn in the side of the establishment, holding them accountable and standing up for working families. Time and time again, I have stood up to the powers that be, and they would love to get rid of me,” Wyatt said in a statement to CTV News. He was the last member of the current council to not announce whether or not they were running in the fall election. “I see the mess this city is in today, with the disastrous new bus routes, ever rising water bills, developer largesse, and poverty in our streets. More than ever, we need a truly independent voice at city hall that will not cave into power, and who will consistently stand up for Transcona and working people.” Wyatt is currently facing a pair of sexual assault charges related to separate incidents. Winnipeg police arrested Wyatt in March of this year after receiving a report in February that a man was sexually assaulted. Police said the victim and another man met on a social media site and then started meeting in person on more than one occasion in December 2025. During one of the meet-ups, police said the victim was given an illicit drug and then sexually assaulted. Wyatt was charged with sexual assault and administering a noxious thing with intent to aggrieve or annoy. Then in August, Wyatt was charged with another count of sexual assault following an investigation that stemmed from an incident in October 2023. Police said investigators received information about an alleged sexual assault that happened three years ago and started investigating in April. It’s alleged Wyatt and another man became acquainted in July 2023 through a social media site and then met in person on more than one occasion. Police said during one of the meetings, the man was alleged to have been given an illicit drug and sexually assaulted. Wyatt was charged with sexual assault and administering a noxious thing with intent to endanger life or cause bodily harm in relation to an alleged historical sexual assault. He was also arrested in April for possession of psilocybin, a psychedelic substance commonly known as magic mushrooms. None of the charges have been tested in court and Wyatt has maintained his innocence. Following his initial arrest, Wyatt was removed from seven city committees and boards in a unanimous council vote. While Wyatt is now registered, he still needs to file nomination papers to get his name on the ballot. Those papers are due by 4:30 p.m. Tuesday. Winnipeg’s election will take place on Oct. 28. - With files from CTV News’ Milan Lukes
