“It’s a very eclectic group,” said Di Ianni. “There are new people on other campaigns last time that are helping me.”

Di Ianni has managed to snatch two veteran election campaigners who helped to orchestrate Mayor Fred Eisenberger’s 2006 election upset of Di Ianni.

Ken Audziss, Di Ianni’s campaign manager, was the campaign manager for Mayor Fred Eisenberger in 2006, while Trevor Pettit, a former Progressive Conservative MPP for the Hamilton Mountain, played an advisory role in Eisenberger’s 2006 campaign.

“Larry has the leadership quality to get the city back on track,” said Pettit. “There is no doubt he can win.”

Audziss, who is also the federal and provincial Hamilton East-Stoney Creek Progressive Conservative riding association president, had earlier stated he had no animosity against Eisenberger.

After helping guide Eisenberger’s successful campaign, Audziss became his chief of staff until he left in 2008.

Also lurking behind the scenes is Eric Cunningham, a former Liberal MPP who backed Di Ianni in 2006.

“We’re old friends,” said Cunningham. “Larry inspires a higher level of cooperation and competence among councillors that is based upon mutual respect.”

He said Hamilton residents have a chance now to compare the records of both Di Ianni and Eisenberger. “And for Fred, the last four years have frankly been a lack of leadership.”

Di Ianni has tapped another former Eisenberger campaign staffer, Michael Peters, a former mayoral candidate himself in 2003, to be his chief financial officer, while Bert Allen, a former Hamilton-Wentworth trustee, Tom Murray, a former Ward 8 alderman and mayoral candidate, and Lionel Joyner, the vice-president of the Hamilton East-Stoney Creek federal Liberal riding association are his “immediate” advisors.

Also backing Di Ianni is former Ward 1 councillor Marvin Caplan, and former city of Stoney Creek employee and former Ward 9 councillor Phil Bruckler, who both attended Di Ianni’s campaign kickoff at TERRA greenhouses in Flamborough.

“Larry and I are friends,” said Bruckler. “I think he will be great for the city.”

Former CH television anchor Dan McLean, who recently resigned as the Liberal candidate for Ancaster-Dundas-Flamborough-Westdale, was scheduled to host Di Ianni’s event July 26, but cancelled about 20 minutes before it was to begin. Another CH personality, Fred Anderton, introduced Di Ianni, and acted as media watchdog during the mini-news conference.