Mayor Bob Bratina is endorsing Brad Clark as the next mayor of Hamilton, while about 15 local unions gathered in east Hamilton to support Brian McHattie.

In a new radio ad released by Clark on Thursday, the outgoing mayor says that Clark “is my choice to keep us moving forward.”

Clark, a Ward 9 councillor in Stoney Creek, is running against 11 other challengers, including former mayor Fred Eisenberger and Ward 1 councillor Brian McHattie.

“I ran in the last municipal election because we needed change,” Bratina says in the 30-second ad. “And overwhelmingly, people agreed. We can’t go back. Brad Clark is my choice to keep us moving forward.”

Clark says in the ad that his focus is high-paying jobs, wise use of tax dollars and no LRT.

Mayor Bob Bratina says he supports Brad Clark for mayor. (John Rieti/CBC)

Meanwhile, McHattie announced more support from labour unions Thursday afternoon, including the United Steelworkers local 1005, the Elementary Teachers Federation of Ontario, Unifor, CUPE, OPSEU and the Canadian Union of Postal Workers.

Fifteen unions attended a media event at 3 p.m., representing about 40,000 Hamilton members combined. But it remains to be seen how many will vote along union lines, he said.

McHattie said in a statement that Bratina’s endorsement isn’t necessarily a good thing.

“I believe the damage Mr. Bratina caused at the council table will only be repeated if Mr. Clark becomes mayor,” he said. “We’ve had enough of the divisiveness. The lecturing. The lack of leadership. We’ve got to move beyond this kind of poor behaviour. It wasn’t all that different under Mr. Eisenberger either.

“I experienced both first hand. As Mayor, my focus will be on driving Hamilton forward with the help of Council, not on putting it into reverse, as Mr. Clark wants to do. Or putting it in neutral, as Mr. Eisenberger wants to do.”

Eisenberger had little to say about the endorsement. "I am focused on real issues that matter to the voters in Hamilton," he said.

Eisenberger, meanwhile, released a statement about the importance of economic development.

He plans to set up a panel of volunteers from business, industry, labour and the education sector to identify ways to make Hamilton prosper.

“We have an opportunity to map out a collective vision for growth that should include increased productivity, more business innovation and a strengthened and renewed manufacturing base,” he said.

Eisenberger also announced Wednesday morning that he’d establish a Mayor’s Order of Hamilton to recognize people who have demonstrated “extraordinary commitment” to Hamilton.

The election is Oct. 27.

Copy for Brad Clark's ad

“I’m Brad Clark…and I’m Bob Bratina.

Bratina: I ran in the last municipal election because we needed change. And overwhelmingly people agreed. We can’t go back. Brad Clark is my choice to keep us moving forward.

Clark: My plan is to work for the entire city — creating more high-paying jobs, managing your tax dollars wisely, which means no unaffordable LRT. We’ve achieved a lot over the past 4 years. Let’s keep moving forward, not back.

Narrator: On Monday, vote yes to Hamilton. Vote yes to Brad Clark.”