“It’s like getting on a roller coaster. You don’t know what to expect.”

This is what James Frey said before the results began to run.

Frey, who finished fourth in the mayoral campaign, held his election party in a historical house on the south side of Lethbridge. His family was in attendance as well as everyone who worked on his campaigning and dealt with his finances.

Once the group found a good TV channel to watch the results, they started analyzing what was happening.

“Someone asked me if I’d be sad and it is what it is,” Frey said. “I put a lot of work into it, more work than others who put a lot of money into it.”

Frey remained fourth throughout all of the election results. He sat watching the TV with a piece of cardboard and a pen, tabulating the results as they showed up.

Surrounded by friends and other supporters, he seemed relaxed.

When it was official that Rajko Dodic had won the race, the gathering booed.

After the results were finalized, Frey and campaign manager Scott Sakatch planned to go to city hall to make an appearance.

“I guess I should go,” he said.

Before Frey left, some supporters called out that the best candidate didn’t win. Then they broke out into For He’s a Jolly Good Fellow.

When Frey began campaigning back in June he was working hard. He knocked on approximately 4000 doors in four months. 

When asked what the first thing he would do if he won he enthusiastically said, “kiss my wife!”

Regardless of his loss, Frey kissed his wife Cyndi while his daughter Cianna gave him a long hug.

With all the hard work Frey put into the campaign and with lots of committed volunteers alongside him he was still proud of the turnout.

Frey intends to spend a couple of days taking down his signs and just relaxing. Then it’s back to work at Lethbridge Family Services.