Blaine Hyggen elected as next mayor of Lethbridge

Blaine Hyggen has been elected as the 26th mayor of Lethbridge, Alta.

With all results counted from tabulator machines, Hyggen won with 11,973 votes, leading over his next closest competitor, former two-time councillor Bridget Mearns, who had 11,465 votes. Outgoing mayor Chris Spearman was elected in 2013 and re-elected in 2017 but declined to run again.

"[My first reaction] is excitement. Excitement for this team, and all the hard work they've put in," Hyggen said during a campaign event. 

"As well as a huge thanks to the citizens for putting your trust in me for another four years."

Hyggen was elected to council in 2013 and was re-elected in 2017.

The results were announced by Bonnie Hilford, returning clerk for the city during a livestream on Monday night.

Results trailed in later than expected as the city said it was still seeing long lines around the city after polls closed at 8 p.m.

It was a crowded field for eight available councillor seats, with 32 declared candidates.

Four incumbents — Mark Campbell, Belinda Crowson, Jeff Carlson and Ryan Parker — were seeking re-election. All four were re-elected.

Rounding out the rest of council will be three newcomers — Jenn Schmidt-Rempel, John Middleton-Hope and Nick Paladino, as well as former mayor Rajko Dodic.

Lethbridge voters were also asked to weigh in on two local issues as part of this year's election — whether to adopt a ward system for the next election and whether council should approve plans to construct a third bridge over the Oldman River prior to 2030.

Both of those non-binding ballot questions were successful. 

Lethbridge's new council will face some significant challenges in the years to come. Hyggen said solving those challenges "wouldn't happen overnight."

"Safety, for example, was a big, big part of my campaign. It doesn't change overnight, but we need to hit the road running hard there," he said.

CBC Calgary has launched a Lethbridge bureau to help tell your stories from southern Alberta with reporter Joel Dryden. Story ideas and tips can be sent to joel.dryden@cbc.ca.

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