Ottawa Mayor Larry O'Brien is seeking a second term in office, saying he will run on his record over the last four years.

"It is my intention to run for another term of the capital, for being mayor of the capital of Canada. I have a very good feeling about the City of Ottawa. I think we're on the brink of something magnificent, something wonderful and quite frankly I want to finish the job that I started in 2006," O'Brien said Tuesday morning, outside his swanky condo in downtown Ottawa.

"We will not go back to ‘Nott-awa'. We will not go back to the constipation of amalgamation; the inability to make decisions; the inability to go forward in this city. What we have done in the last term of council is simply outstanding and I want that to continue. Therefore, I'm putting my name in the hat to be mayor of my hometown: Ottawa."

O'Brien's announcement comes on the heels of a crucial vote approving a deal to redevelop Lansdowne Park. He says his other accomplishments include moving ahead with a new convention centre and a new vision for transit, which includes a downtown tunnel.

Rookie mistakes

O'Brien admits he's made many mistakes in his first term in office. However, he wants residents to base their vote on his accomplishments.

"I'm the first to admit that I made most of the mistakes a political novice would make in the first year – most of the mistakes possible. I think I even made a few mistakes that were impossible to make. But having said that, I think I want the citizens to reflect on the term, to reflect on the entire period."

He says although his four years in office may be viewed as "controversial," he believes he helped the City of Ottawa make progress.

‘Zero means zero'

O'Brien was elected in 2006 on a platform of "zero means zero", a promise he has not been able to keep. Taxes have increased by about 14 per cent. Still, he says a zero per cent tax increase is his goal.

"I will never stop trying to get zero as a tax rate," he said.

Acquitted on bribery charges

O'Brien's term was interrupted by a court case last summer where he was acquitted of two influence peddling charges relating to the last municipal election.

"I think the trial certainly had an affect on my public persona, certainly. I was exonerated August 5, last year. There are some people who that's going to be an issue. I'll face it head on . . . However, it is what it is and we can't change it."

Although O'Brien says he wants the campaign to be about leadership, he says he won't begin campaigning until this fall: "I don't think the citizens of Ottawa necessarily want a dragged out, long campaign."

‘Misinformation'

O'Brien told reporters on Tuesday he made the decision to run for office awhile ago, but chose to misinform a number of people in order to keep his intentions under the radar.

He said he made that decision because he didn't want his political future to interfere with city business, such as securing funding for the city's transit plan and passing a deal to redevelop Lansdowne Park.

"I gave misinformation to a number of people. I didn't want anyone to have any understanding of what I was going to do because you know what? Getting full funding for transit, getting Lansdowne approved couldn't be politicized. It was too important to the City of Ottawa," O'Brien said.

Top contenders

Other contenders considered front-runners in the race for mayor are former Ontario cabinet minister Jim Watson, who was mayor of the pre-amalgamated City of Ottawa, as well as Coun. Alex Cullen.

Recent polls analyzing the top contenders suggest the race is currently Watson's to lose.

O'Brien himself says Watson is the best politician he's ever met. However, he says that's not what the City of Ottawa needs.

"I've told Jim many times that he's the single best politician I've ever met. I've told him that over and over and over. However, I don't think that's what the city needs. I think the city needs progress," O'Brien said.

He added: "Two years and eight months (Watson) was mayor and I can't think of a single thing he did to make this city better, I can't think of anything."

Opponents tackle O'Brien's record

Although Watson welcomed O'Brien to the race Tuesday, he said residents should demand answers to some serious questions about O'Brien's performance.

Watson said residents need to remember that property taxes went up under O'Brien's leadership, noting O'Brien's term was also marked by a 51-day bus strike that cost the city $5.9 million; record amounts of raw sewage in the Ottawa River; paying millions to settle a cancelled light rail project; and choosing to move ahead with a new transit plan that's already ballooned from an original estimate of $1.4 billion to $2.1 billion.

"City hall needs a leader that strives to bring people of different backgrounds and points-of-view together for the greater good of our community," Watson said in a prepared statement.

"On October 25th, the taxpayers of Ottawa will answer this single question, ‘Do you want another four years of chaos and confusion like we have withstood over the past four years?'"

Meanwhile, Cullen says O'Brien's decision to put his name on the ballot will make the race a lively one.

"Quite frankly, I don't think he's electable. I think people won't be fooled a second time, duped by the promise zero means zero," he said.

Residents will go to the polls on Oct. 25.

With files from CTV Ottawa's Joanne Schnurr