2021 Lethbridge municipal election explained

The 2021 Lethbridge municipal election was held Monday, October 18, 2021, to elect a mayor and eight councillors (at-large), the seven Lethbridge School Division trustees, and five of the Holy Spirit Catholic School Division's nine trustees (as Ward 2).

Incumbent mayor Chris Spearman, announced in January 2021 that he would not seek re-election.^[1] He served 2 terms as mayor—being first elected in 2013—after having sat for several years on the Holy Spirit school board. Of the 8 incumbent councillors, Rob Miyashiro, Joe Mauro, and Jeff Coffman declined to run for re-election.^{[2] [3] [4]} Four incumbent councillors, Mark Campbell, Jeff Carlson, Belinda Crowson, and Ryan Parker stated they would run again,^[5] and another incumbent, Blaine Hyggen, announced he would try for the mayoral vacancy left by Spearman's departure.

During the 2017 municipal election, 21,357 of the 78,772 eligible voters turned in a ballot, a voter turnout of 27%.

Results

Bold indicates elected, and incumbents are marked with an (X).

81,276 eligible voters

28,348 voted

Voter turn-out: 34.88 percent ^[6]

Mayor

Candidates

Candidate	Vote[7]	%
Blaine Hyggen	11,973	42.79
Bridget Mearns	11,465	40.97
Stephen Mogdan	2,459	8.79
Sheldon Joseph Day Chief	1,079	3.86
Gary Klassen	687	2.45
Kolton Menzak	321	1.15

Declared

• Sheldon Joseph Day Chief, former leader at Blood Tribe^[8]
• Blaine Hyggen, incumbent councillor^[9]
• Gary Klassen, real estate agent^[10]
  • Bridget Mearns, former councillor and mayoral candidate^{[11] [12] [13] [14]}
• Kolton Menzak, MMA fighter^[15]
• Stephen Mogdan, lawyer^[16]

Councillors

Candidates

Top eight candidates are elected at large

Candidate	Vote	%
Rajko Dodic	12,079	7.32
Belinda Crowson (X)	10,738	6.51
Jenn Schmidt-Rempel	10,463	6.34
Ryan Parker (X)	10,256	6.22
John Middleton-Hope	10,046	6.09
Mark Campbell (X)	9,117	5.53
Jeff Carlson (X)	8,877	5.38
Nick Paladino	7,916	4.80
Ryan Wolfe	7,651	4.64
Bill Ginther	6,289	3.81
Jennifer (Jenn) Prosser	5,872	3.56
Kelti Baird	5,785	3.51
Harold Pereverseff	5,643	3.42
Wally Schenk	5,574	3.38
Darcy Logan	4,883	2.96
Marissa Black	4,839	2.93
Rufa Doria	4,777	2.90
Jerry Firth	4,695	2.85
Ryan Lepko	3,835	2.33
Shelby J. Macleod	3,661	2.22
Suketu Shah	3,636	2.20
Boyd Thomas	3,083	1.87
Zachary Hampton	2,842	1.72
Tim Vanderbeek	2,720	1.65
Dale P. Leier	2,333	1.41
Robin Ryan Walker	1,884	1.14
Davey Wiggers	1,707	1.04
Ben Christensen	1,207	0.73
Bernard (Bernie) Mbonihankuye	850	0.52
Chris Rowley	763	0.46
Bradley Whalen	487	0.30
Michael Petrakis	406	0.25

Declared

• Kelti Baird, business owner^[17]
• Marissa Black, tax professional^[18]
• Mark Campbell, incumbent
• Jeff Carlson, incumbent
• Ben Christensen, business owner^[19]
• Rufa Doria, immigration consultant
• Bill Ginther, Soup Kitchen executive director^[20]
• Dale Leier, retired^[21]
• Darcy Logan, not-for-profit administrator^[22]
• Shelby MacLeod,
• Bernard Mbonihankuye
• John Middleton-Hope, former police chief^[23]
• Nick Paladino, municipal development consultant^[24]
• Ryan Parker, incumbent
• Jenn Prosser, not-for-profit administrator
• Chris Rowley, community activist^[25]
• Kyle Sargeant, business owner^[26]
• Jenn Schmidt-Rempel, business owner^[27]
• Suketu Shah, financial advisor^[28]
• Tim Vanderbeek,
• Bradley Whalen, business owner^{[29] [30] [31] [32]}
• Davey Wiggers^[33]
• Ryan Wolfe, mortgage professional
• Boyd Thomas, not-for-profit director^[34]

Plebiscite

Lethbridge's 2021 municipal election will include two plebiscite questions – one on establishing a ward system and one to construct a third river crossing over the Oldman River.^[35]

Question	Yes	No
"Do you support using a ward system to elect City Councillors (other than the Mayor) starting with the 2025 municipal election?"
"Do you agree that city council should approve plans to construct a 3rd bridge prior to 2030 as a municipal capital project priority?"

See also

• 2021 Alberta municipal elections
• 2021 Calgary municipal election
• 2021 Edmonton municipal election

Notes and References

1. Web site: Kalinowski. Tim. 2021-01-07. Mayor Spearman not running in next election. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20210107140115/https://lethbridgeherald.com/news/lethbridge-news/2021/01/07/mayor-spearman-not-running-in-next-election/ . 2021-01-07 . 2021-01-29. Lethbridge Herald.
2. Web site: Dhaliwal. Taz. January 7, 2021. What does the future of Lethbridge city council look like?. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20210108005724/https://globalnews.ca/news/7562509/future-of-lethbridge-city-council/ . 2021-01-08 . 2021-01-29. Global News. en-US.
3. Web site: Woodward. Dale. 2021-01-12. Blaine Hyggen not making plans yet. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20210112141928/https://lethbridgeherald.com/news/lethbridge-news/2021/01/12/blaine-hyggen-not-making-plans-yet/ . 2021-01-12 . 2021-01-29. Lethbridge Herald.
4. Web site: 2021-09-03. Councillor Jeffrey Coffman will not seek re-election. 2021-10-13. My Lethbridge Now. en-CA.
5. Web site: Four city councillors and one former Lethbridge mayor seeking re-election in municipal election. 2021-10-13. bridgecitynews.ca. en-US.
6. City of Lethbridge 2021 Election Unofficial Results
7. Web site: City of Lethbridge 2021 Election: Unofficial Results . October 18, 2021 . October 19, 2021 . October 19, 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20211019020421/https://www.lethbridge.ca/electionresults/ . dead .
8. Web site: Kalinowski. Tim. 2021-05-01. Former Blood Tribe councillor running for city mayor. live. 2021-05-04. The Lethbridge Herald. https://web.archive.org/web/20210501165117/https://lethbridgeherald.com/news/lethbridge-news/2021/05/01/former-blood-tribe-councillor-running-for-city-mayor/ . 2021-05-01 .
9. Web site: Day. Naveen. 2021-06-10. Blaine Hyggen officially launches mayoral campaign. live. 2021-06-11. BridgeCityNews. en-US. https://web.archive.org/web/20210611001107/https://bridgecitynews.ca/blaine-hyggen-officially-launches-mayoral-campaign/ . 2021-06-11 .
10. Web site: Kalinowski. Tim. 2021-05-12. Local realtor running for city mayor's office. live. 2021-05-12. The Lethbridge Herald. https://web.archive.org/web/20210512155032/https://lethbridgeherald.com/news/lethbridge-news/2021/05/12/local-realtor-running-for-city-mayors-office/ . 2021-05-12 .
11. Web site: Vogt. Terry. 2021-07-22. Bigger and more interesting: Former councillor in the running for Lethbridge's mayor. live. 2021-07-22. CTV News Lethbridge. en. https://web.archive.org/web/20210722224800/https://calgary.ctvnews.ca/bigger-and-more-interesting-former-councillor-in-the-running-for-lethbridge-s-mayor-1.5519889 . 2021-07-22 .
12. Web site: Marczuk. Karsen. Bridget Mearns running for Mayor of Lethbridge. live. 2021-07-22. BridgeCityNews. en-US. https://web.archive.org/web/20210722232103/https://bridgecitynews.ca/bridget-mearns-running-for-mayor-of-lethbridge/ . 2021-07-22 .
13. Web site: Gunn. Connor. Bridget Mearns running for Mayor of Lethbridge. 2021-07-22. Lethbridge News Now. en.
14. Web site: Siedlecki. Patrick. 2021-07-22. Former City Councillor Bridget Mearns running for Lethbridge Mayor. live. 2021-07-22. My Lethbridge Now. en-CA. https://web.archive.org/web/20210722200958/https://www.mylethbridgenow.com/20502/former-city-councillor-bridget-mearns-running-for-lethbridge-mayor/ . 2021-07-22 .
15. Web site: Goulet. Justin. Kolton "The Maniac" Menzak running for mayor of Lethbridge. 2021-07-08. Lethbridge News Now. en.
16. Web site: Siedlecki. Pat. 2021-03-11. Stephen Mogdan, Lethbridge's first mayoral candidate for October election. 2021-03-12. My Lethbridge Now. en-CA.
17. Web site: Baird. Kelti. February 11, 2021. Campaign announcement. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20210211230832/https://twitter.com/BairdKelti/status/1360002750520512514 . 2021-02-11 . February 12, 2021. Twitter.
18. Web site: Kalinowski. Tim. 2021-04-13. Council candidate has eye on environment and social issues. 2021-04-13. The Lethbridge Herald.
19. Web site: Kalinowski. Tim. 2021-05-22. Council candidate hopes voters will see his shift in perspective. 2021-05-22. The Lethbridge Herald.
20. Web site: Kalinowski. Tim. 2021-03-04. Bill Ginther first to announce council candidacy. live. 2021-03-25. The Lethbridge Herald. https://web.archive.org/web/20210304122125/https://lethbridgeherald.com/news/lethbridge-news/2021/03/04/bill-ginther-first-to-announce-council-candidacy/ . 2021-03-04 .
21. Web site: Kalinowski. Tim. 2021-07-24. Candidate looking for transparency, growth and performance on city council. 2021-07-28. The Lethbridge Herald.
22. Web site: Beeber. Al. 2021-06-12. Local gallery manager running for Lethbridge city council. 2021-06-14. The Lethbridge Herald.
23. Web site: Vogt. Terry. 2021-08-19. Former police chief enters Lethbridge city council race. live. 2021-08-20. CTV News Calgary. en. https://web.archive.org/web/20210820002010/https://calgary.ctvnews.ca/former-police-chief-enters-lethbridge-city-council-race-1.5554207 . 2021-08-20 .
24. Web site: Candidates. live. 2021-06-22. City of Lethbridge. en-US. https://web.archive.org/web/20210616230609/https://www.lethbridge.ca/City-Government/Elections/Pages/Candidates.aspx . 2021-06-16 .
25. Web site: Quinn. Micah. 2021-09-01. Councillor hopeful to help out disadvantaged if elected. live. 2021-09-02. BridgeCityNews. en-US. https://web.archive.org/web/20210901232330/https://bridgecitynews.ca/chris-rowley-hopes-to-help-out-disadvantaged-if-elected/ . 2021-09-01 .
26. Web site: Sargeant. Kyle. 2021-02-08. I'm running for city council next election.. 2021-03-28. Facebook. en.
27. News: Roberts. Hal. 2021-06-03. Jenn Schmidt-Rempel running for Lethbridge city council. Bridge City News. 2021-06-03.
28. Web site: Day. Naveen. 2021-07-12. Suketu Shah launches campaign for seat on Lethbridge City Council. live. 2021-07-18. BridgeCityNews. en-US. https://web.archive.org/web/20210712231132/https://bridgecitynews.ca/suketu-shah-launches-campaign-for-seat-on-lethbridge-city-council/ . 2021-07-12 .
29. Web site: Hey Friends & Followers. live. 2021-03-24. Facebook. Coco Vanilla Galactic Cantina. en. https://web.archive.org/web/20211018161640/https://www.facebook.com/login/?next=https://www.facebook.com/yodapizza/posts/286429149586319 . 2021-10-18 .
30. Web site: Opinko. David. Bradley Whalen no longer running for Lethbridge mayor, seeks council seat instead. 2021-07-15. Lethbridge News Now. en.
31. Web site: Vogt. Terry. 2021-07-13. Whalen pulls out of Lethbridge mayoral race, backing Hyggen. 2021-07-15. Calgary. en.
32. Web site: Kalinowski. Tim. 2021-07-14. Mayoral candidate switches to run for council. live. 2021-07-15. The Lethbridge Herald. https://web.archive.org/web/20210714202200/https://lethbridgeherald.com/news/lethbridge-news/2021/07/14/mayoral-candidate-switches-to-run-for-council/ . 2021-07-14 .
33. Web site: Wiggers. Davey. 2021-06-30. It's official!. live. 2021-07-01. Twitter. en. https://web.archive.org/web/20210701045558/https://twitter.com/WiggersDavey/status/1410304546027364353 . 2021-07-01 .
34. Web site: Candidates. 2021-09-16. www.lethbridge.ca. en-US.
35. Web site: Municipal Elections . City of Lethbridge . August 2, 2021.