Thomas Steen loses Elmwood council seat to Jason Schreyer
Jason Schreyer unseats incumbent to represent Elmwood-East Kildonan on city council
“This is a culmination of months if not over a year of hard work,” said Schreyer. “The result is consistent with what I’ve been getting at the doors.”
Steen, the incumbent, came in second in the race, receiving more than 4,100 votes.
He was running for re-election amid personal difficulties. The former Winnipeg Jet was charged with multiple domestic violence charges earlier this year after an incident with a woman at a Winnipeg restaurant in May.
Schreyer said it was time for change.
“My priorities of restoring confidence in city hall and restoring and repairing the streets and infrastructure of Winnipeg, possibly at its lowest ebb in modern Winnipeg history,” he said.
The next step for Schreyer is getting up to speed. He has been working as an assistant to NDP MLA Steve Ashton, but took a leave of absence for the campaign. He is also the son of former Manitoba premier Ed Schreyer,
“I’m going to be learning about the process at city hall. I’m going to be talking with other city councillors, with the mayor and seeing what the agenda is,” he said.
Schreyer defeated Steen, Paul Quaye and Jason Cumming.
Steen declined an interview but issued the statement below.
"I am grateful for the opportunity I had the last four years to represent the residents of the area. When I was first elected I was told that this area was at the tipping point and the general direction was on a slippery slope to even more decline due to years of neglect. I am very proud of my accomplishments over the four years with major projects like the completion of the Disraeli Bridge project, the twinning of Molson Street, the Clara Hughes Recreational park and the new East Elmwood Community Club. In addition, all community clubs in the area and many organizations and parks have been revived over the last four years. I enjoyed my time as Councillor and will cherish the connections in the community I have made and will now try to move on and have something new in my life."