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2021 Lethbridge municipal election

{{short description|Local election in Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada}}

{{Use mdy dates|date=September 2023}}

{{Infobox election

| election_name = 2021 Lethbridge municipal election

| flag_image = Flag of Lethbridge.svg

| seats_for_election = Mayor and 8 councillors to Lethbridge City Council

| previous_year = 2017

| previous_election = 2017 Lethbridge municipal election

| next_year = 2025

| next_election = Lethbridge municipal election, 2025

| election_date = {{Start date|2021|10|18}}

| type = legislative

| candidate1 = Blaine Hyggen

| image1 = File:No image wide.svg

| color1 = 262D63

| popular_vote1 = 11,973

| percentage1 = 42.79%

| candidate2 = Bridget Mearns

| image2 = Bridget Mearns 17DW0947 (cropped).jpg

| image2_size=120px

| color2 = FF6663

| popular_vote2 = 11,465

| percentage2 = 40.97%

| candidate3 = Stephen Mogdan

| image3 = File:No image wide.svg

| color3 = 522953

| popular_vote3 = 2,459

| percentage3 = 8.79%

| after_election = Blaine Hyggen

| before_election = Chris Spearman

| ongoing = no

| title = Mayor

}}

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.{{Cite web|last=Kalinowski|first=Tim|date=2021-01-07|title=Mayor Spearman not running in next election|url=https://lethbridgeherald.com/news/lethbridge-news/2021/01/07/mayor-spearman-not-running-in-next-election/|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210107140115/https://lethbridgeherald.com/news/lethbridge-news/2021/01/07/mayor-spearman-not-running-in-next-election/ |archive-date=2021-01-07 |access-date=2021-01-29|website=Lethbridge Herald}} 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.{{Cite web|last=Dhaliwal|first=Taz|date=January 7, 2021|title=What does the future of Lethbridge city council look like?|url=https://globalnews.ca/news/7562509/future-of-lethbridge-city-council/|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210108005724/https://globalnews.ca/news/7562509/future-of-lethbridge-city-council/ |archive-date=2021-01-08 |access-date=2021-01-29|website=Global News|language=en-US}}{{Cite web|last=Woodward|first=Dale|date=2021-01-12|title=Blaine Hyggen not making plans yet|url=https://lethbridgeherald.com/news/lethbridge-news/2021/01/12/blaine-hyggen-not-making-plans-yet/|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210112141928/https://lethbridgeherald.com/news/lethbridge-news/2021/01/12/blaine-hyggen-not-making-plans-yet/ |archive-date=2021-01-12 |access-date=2021-01-29|website=Lethbridge Herald}}{{Cite web|date=2021-09-03|title=Councillor Jeffrey Coffman will not seek re-election|url=https://www.mylethbridgenow.com/21206/councillor-jeffrey-coffman-will-not-seek-re-election/|access-date=2021-10-13|website=My Lethbridge Now|language=en-CA}} Four incumbent councillors, Mark Campbell, Jeff Carlson, Belinda Crowson, and Ryan Parker stated they would run again,{{Cite web|title=Four city councillors and one former Lethbridge mayor seeking re-election in municipal election|url=https://bridgecitynews.ca/4-city-councillors-1-former-lethbridge-mayor-seeking-re-election-in-municipal-election/|access-date=2021-10-13|website=bridgecitynews.ca|language=en-US}} 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 City of Lethbridge 2021 Election Unofficial Results

= Mayor =

==Candidates==

class="wikitable"
style="background:#ddf; width:200px;"| Candidate

! style="background:#ddf; width:50px;"| Vote{{cite web | url=https://www.lethbridge.ca/electionresults/ | title=City of Lethbridge 2021 Election: Unofficial Results | date=October 18, 2021 | accessdate=October 19, 2021 | archive-date=October 19, 2021 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211019020421/https://www.lethbridge.ca/electionresults/ | url-status=dead }}

! style="background:#ddf; width:30px;"| %

Blaine Hyggen11,97342.79
Bridget Mearns11,46540.97
Stephen Mogdan2,4598.79
Sheldon Joseph Day Chief1,0793.86
Gary Klassen6872.45
Kolton Menzak3211.15

== Declared ==

  • Sheldon Joseph Day Chief, former leader at Blood Tribe{{Cite web|last=Kalinowski|first=Tim|date=2021-05-01|title=Former Blood Tribe councillor running for city mayor|url=https://lethbridgeherald.com/news/lethbridge-news/2021/05/01/former-blood-tribe-councillor-running-for-city-mayor/|url-status=live|access-date=2021-05-04|website=The Lethbridge Herald|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210501165117/https://lethbridgeherald.com/news/lethbridge-news/2021/05/01/former-blood-tribe-councillor-running-for-city-mayor/ |archive-date=2021-05-01 }}
  • Blaine Hyggen, incumbent councillor{{Cite web|last=Day|first=Naveen|date=2021-06-10|title=Blaine Hyggen officially launches mayoral campaign|url=https://bridgecitynews.ca/blaine-hyggen-officially-launches-mayoral-campaign/|url-status=live|access-date=2021-06-11|website=BridgeCityNews|language=en-US|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210611001107/https://bridgecitynews.ca/blaine-hyggen-officially-launches-mayoral-campaign/ |archive-date=2021-06-11 }}
  • Gary Klassen, real estate agent{{Cite web|last=Kalinowski|first=Tim|date=2021-05-12|title=Local realtor running for city mayor's office|url=https://lethbridgeherald.com/news/lethbridge-news/2021/05/12/local-realtor-running-for-city-mayors-office/|url-status=live|access-date=2021-05-12|website=The Lethbridge Herald|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210512155032/https://lethbridgeherald.com/news/lethbridge-news/2021/05/12/local-realtor-running-for-city-mayors-office/ |archive-date=2021-05-12 }}
  • Bridget Mearns, former councillor and mayoral candidate{{Cite web|last=Vogt|first=Terry|date=2021-07-22|title=Bigger and more interesting: Former councillor in the running for Lethbridge's mayor|url=https://calgary.ctvnews.ca/bigger-and-more-interesting-former-councillor-in-the-running-for-lethbridge-s-mayor-1.5519889|url-status=live|access-date=2021-07-22|website=CTV News Lethbridge|language=en|archive-url=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 |archive-date=2021-07-22 }}{{Cite web|last=Marczuk|first=Karsen|title=Bridget Mearns running for Mayor of Lethbridge|url=https://bridgecitynews.ca/bridget-mearns-running-for-mayor-of-lethbridge/|url-status=live|access-date=2021-07-22|website=BridgeCityNews|language=en-US|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210722232103/https://bridgecitynews.ca/bridget-mearns-running-for-mayor-of-lethbridge/ |archive-date=2021-07-22 }}{{Cite web|last=Gunn|first=Connor|title=Bridget Mearns running for Mayor of Lethbridge|url=https://lethbridgenewsnow.com/2021/07/22/bridget-mearns-running-for-mayor-of-lethbridge/|access-date=2021-07-22|website=Lethbridge News Now|language=en}}{{Cite web|last=Siedlecki|first=Patrick|date=2021-07-22|title=Former City Councillor Bridget Mearns running for Lethbridge Mayor|url=https://www.mylethbridgenow.com/20502/former-city-councillor-bridget-mearns-running-for-lethbridge-mayor/|url-status=live|access-date=2021-07-22|website=My Lethbridge Now|language=en-CA|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210722200958/https://www.mylethbridgenow.com/20502/former-city-councillor-bridget-mearns-running-for-lethbridge-mayor/ |archive-date=2021-07-22 }}
  • Kolton Menzak, MMA fighter{{Cite web|last=Goulet|first=Justin|title=Kolton "The Maniac" Menzak running for mayor of Lethbridge|url=https://lethbridgenewsnow.com/2021/07/08/kolton-the-maniac-menzak-running-for-mayor-of-lethbridge/|access-date=2021-07-08|website=Lethbridge News Now|language=en}}
  • Stephen Mogdan, lawyer{{Cite web|last=Siedlecki|first=Pat|date=2021-03-11|title=Stephen Mogdan, Lethbridge's first mayoral candidate for October election|url=https://www.mylethbridgenow.com/16823/stephen-mogdan-lethbridges-first-mayoral-candidate-for-october-election/|access-date=2021-03-12|website=My Lethbridge Now|language=en-CA}}

= Councillors =

==Candidates==

Top eight candidates are elected at large

class="wikitable"
style="background:#ddf; width:225px;"| Candidate

! style="background:#ddf; width:50px;"| Vote

! style="background:#ddf; width:30px;"| %

Rajko Dodic12,0797.32
Belinda Crowson (X)10,7386.51
Jenn Schmidt-Rempel10,4636.34
Ryan Parker (X)10,2566.22
John Middleton-Hope10,0466.09
Mark Campbell (X)9,1175.53
Jeff Carlson (X)8,8775.38
Nick Paladino7,9164.80
Ryan Wolfe7,6514.64
Bill Ginther6,2893.81
Jennifer (Jenn) Prosser5,8723.56
Kelti Baird5,7853.51
Harold Pereverseff5,6433.42
Wally Schenk5,5743.38
Darcy Logan4,8832.96
Marissa Black4,8392.93
Rufa Doria4,7772.90
Jerry Firth4,6952.85
Ryan Lepko3,8352.33
Shelby J. Macleod3,6612.22
Suketu Shah3,6362.20
Boyd Thomas3,0831.87
Zachary Hampton2,8421.72
Tim Vanderbeek2,7201.65
Dale P. Leier2,3331.41
Robin Ryan Walker1,8841.14
Davey Wiggers1,7071.04
Ben Christensen1,2070.73
Bernard (Bernie) Mbonihankuye8500.52
Chris Rowley7630.46
Bradley Whalen4870.30
Michael Petrakis4060.25

== Declared ==

  • Kelti Baird, business owner{{Cite web|last=Baird|first=Kelti|date=February 11, 2021|title=Campaign announcement|url=https://twitter.com/BairdKelti/status/1360002750520512514|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210211230832/https://twitter.com/BairdKelti/status/1360002750520512514 |archive-date=2021-02-11 |access-date=February 12, 2021|website=Twitter}}
  • Marissa Black, tax professional{{Cite web|last=Kalinowski|first=Tim|date=2021-04-13|title=Council candidate has eye on environment and social issues|url=https://lethbridgeherald.com/lethbridge-news/2021/04/13/council-candidate-has-eye-on-environment-and-social-issues/|access-date=2021-04-13|website=The Lethbridge Herald}}
  • Mark Campbell, incumbent
  • Jeff Carlson, incumbent
  • Ben Christensen, business owner{{Cite web|last=Kalinowski|first=Tim|date=2021-05-22|title=Council candidate hopes voters will see his shift in perspective|url=https://lethbridgeherald.com/lethbridge-news/2021/05/22/council-candidate-hopes-voters-will-see-his-shift-in-perspective/|access-date=2021-05-22|website=The Lethbridge Herald}}
  • Rufa Doria, immigration consultant
  • Bill Ginther, Soup Kitchen executive director{{Cite web|last=Kalinowski|first=Tim|date=2021-03-04|title=Bill Ginther first to announce council candidacy|url=https://lethbridgeherald.com/news/lethbridge-news/2021/03/04/bill-ginther-first-to-announce-council-candidacy/|url-status=live|access-date=2021-03-25|website=The Lethbridge Herald|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210304122125/https://lethbridgeherald.com/news/lethbridge-news/2021/03/04/bill-ginther-first-to-announce-council-candidacy/ |archive-date=2021-03-04 }}
  • Dale Leier, retired{{Cite web|last=Kalinowski|first=Tim|date=2021-07-24|title=Candidate looking for transparency, growth and performance on city council|url=https://lethbridgeherald.com/lethbridge-news/2021/07/24/candidate-looking-for-transparency-growth-and-performance-on-city-council/|access-date=2021-07-28|website=The Lethbridge Herald}}
  • Darcy Logan, not-for-profit administrator{{Cite web|last=Beeber|first=Al|date=2021-06-12|title=Local gallery manager running for Lethbridge city council|url=https://lethbridgeherald.com/lethbridge-news/2021/06/12/local-gallery-manager-running-for-lethbridge-city-council/|access-date=2021-06-14|website=The Lethbridge Herald}}{{Dead link|date=February 2022 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}
  • Shelby MacLeod,
  • Bernard Mbonihankuye
  • John Middleton-Hope, former police chief{{Cite web|last=Vogt|first=Terry|date=2021-08-19|title=Former police chief enters Lethbridge city council race|url=https://calgary.ctvnews.ca/former-police-chief-enters-lethbridge-city-council-race-1.5554207|url-status=live|access-date=2021-08-20|website=CTV News Calgary|language=en|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210820002010/https://calgary.ctvnews.ca/former-police-chief-enters-lethbridge-city-council-race-1.5554207 |archive-date=2021-08-20 }}
  • Nick Paladino, municipal development consultant{{Cite web|title=Candidates|url=https://www.lethbridge.ca:443/City-Government/Elections/Pages/Candidates.aspx|url-status=live|access-date=2021-06-22|website=City of Lethbridge|language=en-US|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210616230609/https://www.lethbridge.ca/City-Government/Elections/Pages/Candidates.aspx |archive-date=2021-06-16 }}
  • Ryan Parker, incumbent
  • Jenn Prosser, not-for-profit administrator
  • Chris Rowley, community activist{{Cite web|last=Quinn|first=Micah|date=2021-09-01|title=Councillor hopeful to help out disadvantaged if elected|url=https://bridgecitynews.ca/chris-rowley-hopes-to-help-out-disadvantaged-if-elected/|url-status=live|access-date=2021-09-02|website=BridgeCityNews|language=en-US|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210901232330/https://bridgecitynews.ca/chris-rowley-hopes-to-help-out-disadvantaged-if-elected/ |archive-date=2021-09-01 }}
  • Kyle Sargeant, business owner{{Cite web|last=Sargeant|first=Kyle|date=2021-02-08|title=I'm running for city council next election.|url=https://www.facebook.com/kyle.sargeant.37/posts/10164678865960623|access-date=2021-03-28|website=Facebook|language=en}}
  • Jenn Schmidt-Rempel, business owner{{Cite news|last=Roberts|first=Hal|date=2021-06-03|title=Jenn Schmidt-Rempel running for Lethbridge city council|work=Bridge City News|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xk7zVDSSwl4|access-date=2021-06-03}}
  • Suketu Shah, financial advisor{{Cite web|last=Day|first=Naveen|date=2021-07-12|title=Suketu Shah launches campaign for seat on Lethbridge City Council|url=https://bridgecitynews.ca/suketu-shah-launches-campaign-for-seat-on-lethbridge-city-council/|url-status=live|access-date=2021-07-18|website=BridgeCityNews|language=en-US|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210712231132/https://bridgecitynews.ca/suketu-shah-launches-campaign-for-seat-on-lethbridge-city-council/ |archive-date=2021-07-12 }}
  • Tim Vanderbeek,
  • Bradley Whalen, business owner{{Cite web|title=Hey Friends & Followers|url=https://www.facebook.com/login/?next=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Fyodapizza%2Fposts%2F286429149586319|url-status=live|access-date=2021-03-24|website=Facebook|publisher=Coco Vanilla Galactic Cantina|language=en|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211018161640/https://www.facebook.com/login/?next=https://www.facebook.com/yodapizza/posts/286429149586319 |archive-date=2021-10-18 }}{{Cite web|last=Opinko|first=David|title=Bradley Whalen no longer running for Lethbridge mayor, seeks council seat instead|url=https://lethbridgenewsnow.com/2021/07/13/bradley-whalen-no-longer-running-for-lethbridge-mayor-seeks-council-seat-instead/|access-date=2021-07-15|website=Lethbridge News Now|language=en}}{{Cite web|last=Vogt|first=Terry|date=2021-07-13|title=Whalen pulls out of Lethbridge mayoral race, backing Hyggen|url=https://calgary.ctvnews.ca/whalen-pulls-out-of-lethbridge-mayoral-race-backing-hyggen-1.5507414|access-date=2021-07-15|website=Calgary|language=en}}{{Cite web|last=Kalinowski|first=Tim|date=2021-07-14|title=Mayoral candidate switches to run for council|url=https://lethbridgeherald.com/news/lethbridge-news/2021/07/14/mayoral-candidate-switches-to-run-for-council/|url-status=live|access-date=2021-07-15|website=The Lethbridge Herald|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210714202200/https://lethbridgeherald.com/news/lethbridge-news/2021/07/14/mayoral-candidate-switches-to-run-for-council/ |archive-date=2021-07-14 }}
  • Davey Wiggers{{Cite web|last=Wiggers|first=Davey|date=2021-06-30|title=It's official!|url=https://twitter.com/wiggersdavey/status/1410304546027364353|url-status=live|access-date=2021-07-01|website=Twitter|language=en|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210701045558/https://twitter.com/WiggersDavey/status/1410304546027364353 |archive-date=2021-07-01 }}
  • Ryan Wolfe, mortgage professional
  • Boyd Thomas, not-for-profit director{{Cite web|title=Candidates|url=https://www.lethbridge.ca:443/City-Government/Elections/Pages/Candidates.aspx|access-date=2021-09-16|website=www.lethbridge.ca|language=en-US}}

= 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.{{cite web | url=https://www.lethbridge.ca/City-Government/Elections/Pages/default.aspx | title=Municipal Elections | publisher=City of Lethbridge | accessdate=August 2, 2021}}

class="wikitable"
style="background:#ddf;" | Question

! style="background:#ddf;" | Yes

! style="background:#ddf;" | No

"Do you support using a ward system to elect City Councillors (other than the Mayor) starting with the 2025 municipal election?"{{nts|14611}}{{nts|11625}}
"Do you agree that city council should approve plans to construct a 3rd bridge prior to 2030 as a municipal capital project priority?"{{nts|16463}}{{nts|10790}}

References

{{Reflist}}

See also

{{DEFAULTSORT:Lethbridge Municipal Election, 2021}}

Category:2021 Alberta municipal elections

Category:Municipal elections in Lethbridge