By Patrick Burles - @PatrickBurles with files from Aaron Mahoney - @Mahones93 on Twitter)

Chris Spearman re-elected as mayor of Lethbridge

Oct 16, 2017 | 9:11 PM

LETHBRIDGE – Chris Spearman has won a second term as Mayor of Lethbridge, cruising to any easy victory with 73.72-per cent of the vote.

He beat out Martin Heavy Head (16.54%) and Robert Janzen (9.74%), with just over 27-per cent voter turnout.

Immediately after the results came in, Spearman spoke to the media.

“It’s exciting to get more than 70-per cent of the vote. At the same time, I recognize there’s about 25-per cent of the population that’s disaffected for one reason or another,” stated Spearman. “I think Mr. Janzen represents seniors on a fixed income, and I think Mr. Heavy Head brought forward the point that our Indigenous people are not succeeding at the same rates as other people in our community.

“We need to make sure everyone has homes, everyone has access to employment and everyone is optimistic about the future in the City of Lethbridge.”

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When asked about some of the future projects that are expected to come before the new council – made up of six incumbents and two new faces – he was quick to point out that they will be heavily reliant on what happens with MSI (Municipal Sustainability Initiative) funding from the provincial government.

Without the extra support from the government, he noted that funding for major projects would likely have to come from tax payers. He added that those decisions will come when they sit down to decide on their capital priorities in about three years.

“At that time, we’ll have to see how much we have in capital funding available to us, because for every $15-million it’s a one-per cent tax increase… So, let’s be honest about it. A third bridge is a 14-per cent tax increase, a $75-million performing arts centre is going to be at least a five-per cent tax increase, a $90-million convention centre will be a six-per cent tax increase. Unless we have funding that’s going to support that, if we can’t accumulate those kinds of dollars in the next three years, we’re looking at additional pressure on taxes.

“At the same time, we have to look at our operating budgets and recognize that 1/3 of our operating budget goes to protecting services, that’s police and fire and ambulance. So, people are saying taxes are too high, well, shall we cut back on policing? Shall we cut back on ambulance response? These are difficult choices to make.”

Before the interview came to an end, Spearman noted that he’s looking forward to working with council newcomers, Mark Campbell and Belinda Crowson.