Blaine Hyggen. (Lethbridge News Now)

By David Opinko

Blaine Hyggen projected to become Lethbridge’s next mayor

Oct 18, 2021 | 10:12 PM

LETHBRIDGE, AB – It was a tight race, but it looks like Blaine Hyggen might be the next mayor of the city.

The City of Lethbridge has reported the unofficial results for the municipal election.

With all polling stations now reporting, Blaine Hyggen is projected to have won 11,973 votes, or 42.79 per cent. Bridget Mearns was a close second at 40.97 per cent.

“I’m at a loss for words, to be honest with you,” said Hyggen, mere moments after learning the election’s unofficial outcome. “This has just been an exciting, exciting time. It’s over four months in this run and it’s been grueling, but it’s been very rewarding as well. I’ve got an amazing team – it’s not a me, it’s a we – I’ve got an incredible team that has just done everything possible to make this happen so I can’t thank them all enough, and the citizens of Lethbridge for putting their trust in me for another four years.”

Hyggen congratulated all of the other candidates who ran in the election, saying that it is a difficult task just to put your name forward, and especially to run a hard-fought campaign.

Week-in-review: Federal Budget, water agreements and success for tourism industry

Apr 20, 2024

What's Happening in Lethbridge this weekend: April 19, 2024

Apr 19, 2024

What's Happening in Lethbridge this week: April 15, 2024

Apr 15, 2024

As far as his first duties as mayor-elect, he says he needs to speak with his to-be councillors.

“The biggest thing is to sit down with the councillors and find out what goals and ideas they have. This has got to be a team effort, you know, we talked about throughout the campaign that, gosh Blaine, there was some division here previously. We’re going to have varying opinions but it’s going to be something that we work on our strengths and not our weaknesses – let’s get together and do what we can to better the community.”

The projected winners for Lethbridge City Council are:

• Rajko Dodic – 7.32%
• Belinda Crowson (Incumbent) – 6.51%
• Jenn Schmidt-Rempel – 6.34%
• Ryan Parker (Incumbent) – 6.22%
• John Middleton-Hope – 6.09%
• Mark Campbell (Incumbent) – 5.53%
• Jeff Carlson (Incumbent) – 5.38%
• Nick Paladino – 4.8%

There were other questions on the Lethbridge election ballot, specifically regarding whether the city should move to a ward system and whether a third bridge was needed.

On the question of a ward system, 60.4 per cent of voters have agreed a ward system is warranted to elect City Councillors, starting with the 2025 municipal election.

When asked if residents agree that city council should approve plans to construct a third bridge prior to 2030 as a municipal capital project priority, 55.69 per cent agreed.

The seven Public School Board Trustees-Elect to serve a four-year term in office are:

• Andrea Andreachuk
• Christine Light
• Kristina Larkin
• Tyler Demers
• Allison Purcell
• Genny Steed
• Craig Whitehead

The five Separate School Board Trustees-Elect to serve a four-year term in office are:

• Carmen P. Mombourquette
• Linda Ellefson
• Tricia Doherty
• Roisin Gibb
• Bob Spitzig

The official results will become available at noon on Friday.

The swearing-in ceremony will take place on Monday, October 25 at 1:30 pm. The city will be live-streaming the event.

More election coverage here.