Nine new councillors elected as Winnipeg council turns over

Winnipeg voters elected nine new councillors on Oct. 28, the biggest turnover at city council since the 1992 election, CBC reported, as Mayor Scott Gillingham won a second term, according to unofficial results.

Four incumbents were defeated and five did not seek re-election, leaving six returning councillors on the 15-seat council, according to Global News. The unofficial results are subject to confirmation by the City of Winnipeg.

Gillingham received roughly 40 per cent of the vote and defeated 11 other candidates, Global News reported. Former Progressive Conservative MLA Kevin Klein and political newcomer Noah Redden each had about 20 per cent. Global said Gillingham was projected the winner about 50 minutes after polls closed. Our earlier story covers the mayoral race.

Among the defeated incumbents, Old Kildonan Coun. Devi Sharma, who served as council’s speaker, lost to Greg McFarlane, who had about 56 per cent to her 36 per cent, Global reported. In St. James, Shawn Dobson finished last of three candidates behind Kelly Ryback, who had 43 per cent.

In Transcona, Russ Wyatt lost to Lora Meseman, who had 31 per cent. Global noted Wyatt’s campaign had been overshadowed by sexual assault charges. In Mynarski, Ross Eadie, a councillor for 16 years, lost to Natalie Smith by 31 per cent to 29 per cent, Global said.

Five other incumbents did not run. Jeff Palmer was elected in Fort Rouge-East Fort Garry, succeeding Sherri Rollins, and Sara MacArthur won River Heights-Fort Garry, replacing John Orlikow. Ray Dubois was elected in St. Norbert-Seine River, where Markus Chambers was not on the ballot, and Chris Sigurdson won St. Vital, replacing Bryan Mayes. Jasmine Brar won Waverley West, replacing Janice Lukes, who had served 12 years, according to Global.

That makes the nine new councillors Palmer, Smith, McFarlane, MacArthur, Ryback, Dubois, Sigurdson, Meseman and Brar, according to Global News.

Six incumbents kept their seats, Global reported. They are Evan Duncan in Charleswood-Tuxedo-Westwood, Cindy Gilroy in Daniel McIntyre, Emma Durand-Wood in Elmwood-East Kildonan, Jeff Browaty in North Kildonan, Vivian Santos in Point Douglas and Matt Allard in St. Boniface.

Curtis Brown of Abacus Data told Global News that voters “really voted in change in a big way.” Loren Remillard of the Winnipeg Chamber of Commerce said residents want “more than just the same people pitching tired, recycled, old ideas.”

The race followed weeks of debate over taxes and relations with the province, which we covered in Winnipeg mayoral rivals spar over province ties, taxes. Voters in all 15 wards had access to advance polls, as we reported in our advance voting story, and our voting guide explained the hours and ID rules.

Turnout figures and final vote counts had not been published in the sources reviewed. Canada News Media will update this story when the City of Winnipeg releases official results.

File photo: Winnipeg’s City Hall building, 2012. Photo: Ccyyrree, CC0 via Wikimedia Commons.

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