\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t The Free Press had already been scheduled to join Klein on the campaign trail Monday, intending to document a day in the life of the front-running candidate to unseat incumbent Scott Gillingham, before the controversies hit.<\/p>\n The allegations and criticisms were weighing heavily on Klein when the Free Press arrived at his campaign office and he spent much of the day addressing them. He denied Vogiatzakis\u2019s allegations<\/a> and said his rival\u2019s team had offered him a similar bribe. He vowed the controversial column would never have been published if he was still holding a position at the Sun, placing the responsibility on his wife, Sun editor-in-chief Heather Klein, and later apologizing to the Southern Chiefs\u2019 Organization.<\/p>\n Periods of time when he wasn\u2019t on the defensive were the parts of campaigning that Klein says are the most important to him \u2014 finding support from voters, be it through honks from drivers or handshakes at a local diner.<\/p>\n \u201cAll this kind of stuff coming up, it\u2019s not me or my platform, and I think we have developed a platform that is strong,\u201d he said Monday morning. \u201cI believe that Winnipeg can be better.\u201d<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t \u25cf 8:04 a.m. The day begins at Klein\u2019s campaign office on St. Mary\u2019s Road, where seven staff members and volunteers are enjoying Timbits and coffee. As campaign manager Keith Poulson puts it, \u201cwe tend to be very relaxed here\u2026 but we\u2019re doing some serious stuff.\u201d<\/p>\n Klein is in a suit, and his supporters, all decked out in blue shirts emblazoned with his name, gather around a table. The team remains quiet as he details the back-and-forth accusations and expresses regret over the column.<\/p>\n He refers to a previous Sun column, written Sept. 28 by former MP Robert-Falcon Ouellette \u2014 who is Indigenous \u2014 calling on groups to \u201ctreat residential school issues more seriously,\u201d and describes Vogiatzakis\u2019s claims as \u201cwithout merit.\u201d<\/p>\n Klein speaks candidly, saying it feels like being \u201cpicked on,\u201d and that he doesn\u2019t want his supporters to get caught up in the fray.<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t \u201cThe entire thing is unfortunate, because for whatever reason, I have two candidates, in Gillingham and now Voigitzakis, acting like Donald Trump \u2014 it\u2019s like an American-style election, just attack, attack, attack, with no merit,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n \u201cAnd I want to apologize to you guys, because you have been very good to me. You\u2019ve been great supporters to me. I don\u2019t want to let you down.\u201d<\/p>\n Klein finishes speaking and Poulson places a supportive hand on his shoulder.<\/p>\n \u201cNow we\u2019re five minutes behind schedule,\u201d he says, and everyone laughs, the tension breaking.<\/p>\n \u25cf 8:21 a.m. Klein\u2019s morning routine includes hot coffee in a massive white Yeti tumbler with a straw \u2014 half-decaf, with a bit of sugar-free creamer \u2014 and a handful of vitamins, including fish oil, glucosamine, turmeric and magnesium; good for the joints, he says, after years of practising Taekwondo and walking the two family dogs, a German shepherd named George and a Maltese called Indy.<\/p>\n Klein and his team set up on a stretch of road near the office, waving campaign signs and pumping fists. Lots of supportive honks, including some from Winnipeg Transit bus drivers.<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t \u25cf 8:48 a.m. Back in the office. Klein has a campaign announcement scheduled for 10:30 a.m. at the Granite Curling Club on transparency at city hall. He calls it a \u201cbig one.\u201d<\/p>\n Still, the allegations and criticisms of the last 24 hours loom. Klein knows reporters will have questions and he plans to address them ahead of his transparency announcement, hoping they switch their focus to that.<\/p>\n When asked how he approaches media scrutiny, especially on a day like this one, the words tumble out.<\/p>\n He spoke with Poulson about the allegations early this morning, and then with a friend he describes as a mentor figure. He consoled his family \u2014 he and his wife have six adult children and seven grandchildren \u2014 who were worried about him. He prayed.<\/p>\n Barbs from other candidates often touch a sensitive nerve, he says. He describes his upbringing as \u201cdysfunctional:\u201d he constantly moved between schools, his family was often evicted from homes and his life was shattered after his mother was murdered by her partner.<\/p>\n \u201cThat is a big part of it. It\u2019s a big part of it because it does bring back a lot of childhood stuff,\u201d he says. \u201cIt\u2019s like \u2014 again? I\u2019m not new to the school this time.\u201d<\/p>\n \u25cf 9:09 a.m. Klein reads his talking points for the upcoming announcement softly to himself. Campaign staffers fiddle with a printer that isn\u2019t co-operating.<\/p>\n Klein announced his intention to run for mayor on Sept. 1, leaving him with less than two months to campaign before voting day on Oct. 28. It\u2019s not a lot of time, he acknowledges. His announcements typically come after several weeks of research, he says. Some, like his homelessness strategy, started with research that began before he announced his intention to run.<\/p>\n \u201cOne of the most difficult things (about) running as not (an) incumbent is you don\u2019t have the same access to city information\u2026 so we have to dig a little deeper,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n For Poulson, a former nurse who has worked on more than two dozen campaigns in the last 40 years, the last month has been non-stop. He swears this one is his last. If it isn\u2019t, he jokingly suggests, his wife might kill him.<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t \u25cf 10:30 a.m. Outside of the Granite Curling Club, Klein takes to a podium in front of reporters, photographers and camera operators. He acknowledges \u201csome interesting developments and false claims,\u201d and takes questions.<\/p>\n Later, he pivots to his announcement; he promises to bring back the city\u2019s independent ombudsman, tasked with investigating cost overruns on projects.<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t On the drive back to the campaign office, he says it\u2019s difficult to gauge news conferences in terms of successes or failures.<\/p>\n \u201cI just have to tell my truth, and it\u2019ll be reported the way it\u2019s reported. I give up trying to guess, you know?\u201d he says, pausing before glancing at the Free Press reporter.<\/p>\n \u201cHow did you think it went?\u201d<\/p>\n \u25cf 11:26 a.m. An interview with francophone weekly newspaper La Libert\u00e9.<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t \u25cf 12:01 p.m. Lunch at Red Top Drive Inn, a staple for Klein and the team. Despite a burger on the menu named \u201cThe Mayor,\u201d Klein goes for the classic breakfast, which features eggs, sausage, rye toast and coffee with milk. He doesn\u2019t do a lot of sit-down meals, he explains, but he\u2019ll eat breakfast foods any time of day.<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t The conversation is light and casual, a break from campaigning. Klein and his staff chat about favourite foods, an upcoming film about the production of the 1976 Oscar-winning underdog boxing movie Rocky and Thanksgiving plans. Klein notes he\u2019s been hinting to his kids via texts that it should be hosted at one of their homes.<\/p>\n \u201cWe have kids, make it their job,\u201d he says with a laugh. \u201cI\u2019m working on that.\u201d<\/p>\n \u25cf 1:15 p.m. \u201cGood luck, buddy,\u201d a diner says, shaking Klein\u2019s hand before leaving the restaurant. Minutes later, another supporter \u2014 a friend and local business owner, Klein explains \u2014 also stops to wish him well and introduce him to his dining companion.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m sorry you had to have lunch with this guy,\u201d Klein says with a smile.<\/p>\n \u201cBe nice now, you\u2019re supposed to be nice to me,\u201d his friend counters.<\/p>\n \u201cOh, right, it\u2019s a political season\u2026 I forgot,\u201d Klein says, inspiring some laughs.<\/p>\n \u25cf 1:39 p.m. Another media interview, this time with Citytv, focused on transit safety.<\/p>\n \u25cf 1:47 p.m. Heather Klein arrives at the campaign office. She has served as the Sun\u2019s editor-in-chief for the past year or so, and has taken full responsibility for the column that appeared in Sunday\u2019s paper.<\/p>\n Her eyes well up and her voice catches when describing the backlash.<\/p>\n \u201cI feel sick,\u201d she says. \u201cI never thought it would be me that would hurt him.\u201d<\/p>\n Her workload has doubled since her husband stepped away, she says, adding it\u2019s been a lot to juggle.<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t \u201cI\u2019m going to blame it on being absolutely overwhelmed with what\u2019s going on in this moment, and it was the wrong decision, absolutely, to put it out,\u201d she says as Klein pats her arm supportively.<\/p>\n She says the column\u2019s comments don\u2019t reflect the couple\u2019s views, but notes that she believes people \u201chave a right to share their opinions.\u201d After it was published, she defended it in a column of her own titled \u201cDisagreement is not denial.\u201d<\/p>\n Regardless, she says, its publication was \u201cvery poor timing.\u201d<\/p>\n She already wasn\u2019t sure about her husband running for mayor a second time \u2014 he finished third behind Gillingham and Glen Murray in 2022 \u2014 but became convinced after hearing from voters \u201cwho seemed desperate for change.\u201d<\/p>\n She describes the race as stressful and hard on their family.<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t \u201cI prefer to have him at the Sun because it\u2019s a hard job without him. But I also believe Winnipeg desperately needs help, and that\u2019s where we\u2019re at,\u201d she says.<\/p>\n She pushes back on the question of whether her husband has a special advantage during the campaign because she\u2019s the the editor of the Sun. Even if the paper comes with an inherent \u201cperk,\u201d the incumbent has the advantages of being in office, she says.<\/p>\n \u201cIt is an advantage, for sure. I would never discount that,\u201d she says. \u201cBut Scott (Gillingham) has an advantage, too.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI don\u2019t think we\u2019ve ever used that advantage,\u201d Klein replies.<\/p>\n She acknowledges that it\u2019s hard to say for sure.<\/p>\n \u25cf 2:29 p.m. Time to put out requested lawn signs at supporters\u2019 homes. The editor sees the candidate off, teasing him not to play too much \u201980s music \u2014 his favourite \u2014 while driving.<\/p>\n While Klein places one lawn sign, a woman walking by stops to speak with him about his homelessness strategy.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ll be voting, I vote every election,\u201d she says.<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t \u25cf 3:07 p.m. Klein spends some time connecting with constituents over the phone. On one call, it appears he\u2019s speaking with someone sympathetic to what he endured over the past day.<\/p>\n \u201cEver the Rocky figure, taking the hits, you know me,\u201d he says with a laugh.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m just gonna start telling Keith (Poulson) to, \u2018Cut me, Mickey, cut me,\u2019\u201d he adds, referencing a classic mid-fight line from the movie between Rocky and his trainer.<\/p>\n \u25cf 5:33 p.m. The day ends with a bingo game at the Belgian Club Legion 107. It\u2019s a packed house filled with experienced players and their good-luck trinkets and bedazzled dabbers lining the tables. Klein, meanwhile, is explaining to some of his younger staff members why the Canadian sci-fi comedy Resident Alien is one of his favourite shows.<\/p>\n \u201cMy wife hates it, because I watch the same TV series to go to sleep, every night, for years,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t \u25cf 5:54 p.m. A bingo veteran has questions for Klein after overhearing he\u2019s a mayoral candidate. After some small talk, he\u2019s sold.<\/p>\n \u201cYou\u2019ve already got my vote,\u201d the man says, sipping his drink.<\/p>\n \u25cf 6:33 p.m. Klein doesn\u2019t gamble, but says it\u2019s a nice chance just to be around voters without being imposing or obtrusive.<\/p>\n There have been several mentions of Rocky \u2014 which embraces the theme of perseverance through struggle \u2014 during the day.<\/p>\n Klein says he understands that struggle all too well.<\/p>\n \u201cIt doesn\u2019t matter how hard you get hit, it matters how hard you get hit and keep getting up. And I really felt that today,\u201d he says over noise inside the bingo hall.<\/p>\n \u201cI really felt that I took a lot of hits today, but I\u2019ve got to get back up because\u2026 I believe in what I\u2019m doing. I believe that I can help our city.\u201d<\/p>\n malak.abas@winnipegfreepress.com<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t Malak Abas Malak Abas is a city reporter at the Free Press. Born and raised in Winnipeg\u2019s North End, she led the campus paper at the University of Manitoba before joining the Free Press in 2020. Read more about Malak<\/a>.<\/p>\n Every piece of reporting Malak produces is reviewed by an editing team before it is posted online or published in print \u2014 part of the Free Press\u2018s tradition, since 1872, of producing reliable independent journalism. Read more about Free Press\u2019s history and mandate<\/a>, and learn how our newsroom operates<\/a>.<\/p>\n
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t![\"Kevin](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/4618374_web1_261005-Kevin-Klein-0367.jpg\")
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tKevin Klein at campaign HQ going over the plan for a 10:30 AM press conference. (Mike Deal \/ Free Press)\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t![\"Kevin](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/4618374_web1_261005-Kevin-Klein-0061.jpg\")
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tKevin Klein and his team sit down for a morning meeting to chart out the day. (Mike Deal \/ Free Press)\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t![\"Klein](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/4618374_web1_261005-Kevin-Klein-0340.jpg\")
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tKlein with his campaign manager, Keith Poulson, back at HQ. (Mike Deal \/ Free Press)\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t![\"Kevin](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/4618374_web1_261005-Kevin-Klein-0177.jpg\")
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tKevin Klein (left) and Wells Mayes, Klein\u2019s operations director. (Mike Deal \/ Free Press)\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t![\"Kevin](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/4618374_web1_261005-Kevin-Klein-0705.jpg\")
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tKevin Klein has a quick chat with his team at the Granite Curling Club prior to a 10:30 press conference. (Mike Deal \/ Free Press)\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t![\"Kevin](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/4618374_web1_261005-Kevin-Klein-1133.jpg\")
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tKevin Klein at the Granite Curling Club chats with reporters after a press conference. (Mike Deal \/ Free Press)\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t![\"Kevin](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/4618374_web1_261005-Kevin-Klein-1167.jpg\")
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tKevin Klein arrives back at campaign headquarters for an interview with a reporter from La Libert\u00e9, a French language newspaper. (Mike Deal \/ Free Press)\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t![\"Klein](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/4618374_web1_261005-Kevin-Klein-1444.jpg\")
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tKlein shows off photos of one of his dogs over lunch at the Red Top Drive Inn. (Mike Deal \/ Free Press)\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t![\"Klein](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/4618374_web1_261005-Kevin-Klein-2223.jpg\")
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tKlein goes over emails and chats with his wife Heather Klein. (Mike Deal \/ Free Press)\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t![\"Kevin](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/4618374_web1_261005-Kevin-Klein-0440.jpg\")
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tKevin Klein en route to his next destination on the schedule. (Mike Deal \/ Free Press)\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t![\"Klein](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/4618374_web1_261005-Kevin-Klein-2362.jpg\")
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tKlein installs a yard sign at a supporter\u2019s home. (Mike Deal \/ Free Press)\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t![\"Bingo](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/4618374_web1_261005-Kevin-Klein-3161.jpg\")
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tBingo at the Belgian Club with his operations director, Wells Mayes. (Mike Deal \/ Free Press)\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n![\"Malak](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/malak-abas-mug.jpg\")
<\/p>\n
Reporter
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