Mayoral candidate Bridget Mearns gives a speech to her supporters after loss to Blaine Hyggen on Oct. 18, 2021.
Blaine Hyggen edged out Bridget Mearns by only 500 votes to win the mayoral race in Lethbridge on Oct. 18.
Hyggen took 42.79 per cent of the vote and received 11,973 votes to become Lethbridge’s newest mayor after Chris Spearman held the position for the past eight years.
Hyggen said he had plenty of help throughout the campaign to help him win the election.
“This is how we got to where we were. Community support and it’s just been overwhelming,” Hyggen said.
Hyggen revealed he was humbled by the victory and looks to connect with everyone else on the ballot for election night.
“My first goal is to connect up with all of these councilors and just give my congratulations to each and every one of them and also to everybody that put their name forward,” he said.
Former councilor Bridget Mearns was sad to not become Lethbridge’s first female mayor, but explained she was happy with what her campaign was able to accomplish.
“I’m so incredibly proud of our team. You can see them behind me. They gave their heart and soul. They have full-time jobs. They have family commitments. They’ve come up against COVID restrictions and then gave it their all” she said.
Such teamwork will be important for the new mayor going forward. Hyggen admitted working together with the eight members of council will be important even if they disagree.
“There’s no way we’re going to be able to advance what the community wants without working together as a council,” he said.
Hyggen said there is no one item on his agenda that he wants to bring up first and he wishes to speak with the councilors first before tackling new decisions.
“I’d like to hear from all of them, because this is something that we want to start off on the right foot and let’s find out what we can do to better this community,” he added.
Mearns was positive about going forward after losing the election, extending thanks to her mother, Bridget Pastoor, who had dedicated her life to public service. Pastoor was MLA in Lethbridge-East from 2004-2016 for both the Liberals and the Progressive Conservaties.
“She was an inspiration, and she has instilled in me a sense of public service that will never go away. And this certainly isn’t going to stop that. So, there’s a way of servicing our community that’s beyond just an elected seat,” she added.
She stated she is proud of the people who voted for her and what the support she received means for the city.
“You saw how close the results were. Which means so many people believed in the vision that I presented. They believed in collaboration. They believed in community. They believed in coming together to find solutions. That’s what my campaign stood for and that’s what a lot of people wanted to see. So, I thank them for their votes,” Mearns said.
Mearns shared she was glad to see the increased voter turnout in the city.
“Any time that we have citizens come out to vote and share their opinion and be heard is a good thing.”
Of the eligible voters, there was a turnout of 34.88 per cent with a total of 28,348 ballots cast equivalent to 35 per cent of eligible voters in the city.
For more details on the unofficial results of the election, visit lethbridge.ca/electionresults.