Former newspaper publisher Kevin Klein elected in Charleswood-Tuxedo
Replaces Marty Morantz, who did not seek re-election in Winnipeg ward
Kevin Klein will be the new councillor in Charleswood-Tuxedo, defeating former councillor Grant Nordman, Kevin Nichols and Ken St. George.
This is the third municipal election in a row in which the southwestern Winnipeg ward will have a new councillor, after Coun. Marty Morantz announced he would not seek re-election and would instead run for the federal Conservatives in Charleswood-St. James-Assiniboia-Headingley.
"I'm really honoured," Klein said after hearing the results. "People in this community have put their trust in me, they've put their confidence in me and it's an amazing feeling, it really is."
The former publisher of the Winnipeg Sun vowed to be accessible to the people of Charleswood-Tuxedo. He said a need for openness and communication was the most common concern he heard when campaigning.
"Everybody said ... they don't mind paying taxes, they just want their money's worth and they'd like to know what's going on," he said.
"So I intend to make sure that they do know what's going on, because they pay my salary now and they're my boss, so I work for them."
Klein campaigned on a promise to hold two town halls a year about all developments expected in the ward — including the much-anticipated widening of Kenaston Boulevard and the development of Kapyong Barracks.
He pledged to reinvest in community centres, create a more transparent budget process and partner more with private businesses. He also publicly pledged his support for Mayor Brian Bowman, who was re-elected Wednesday night.
Rival represented St. Charles
Before Morantz, the council seat was held by Paula Havixbeck, who served one term following the death of Bill Clement, who was the area's councillor for almost three decades.
Havixbeck didn't run for re-election in 2014, instead running for mayor. She lost to Bowman.
Nordman, who ran against Klein, served as councillor in the now-defunct St. Charles ward from 2006-14, before being defeated by Shawn Dobson in the 2014 election.
St. Charles was dissolved when new ward boundaries were drawn for this election. Dobson ran against Scott Gillingham in St. James, but was defeated in that race.
'It was worth the shot,' says former councillor
After his second consecutive civic election defeat, Nordman said Wednesday evening he is likely done with politics. "But I am not going to say never," he added.
He said unlike 2014, he "didn't have anything to lose" this time out.
"On the upside, we have 5,300 new friends," said Nordman, who came in second in the ward, with a final tally of 5,922 votes (34 per cent) to Klein's 7,403 (42 per cent), according to unofficial results from the City of Winnipeg.
"On the downside, we spent 54 days that we will never get back. But it was worth the shot."
With several incumbent councillors making their way back to city hall, Nordman's advice to Klein was to know his role and start building relationships.
"With so many incumbents there isn't going to be a lot of room for a rookie to spread his wings," he said.
"To go down there with the attitude that you can change things, that there is a new sheriff in town … that is just not the way it works."
Nordman, who was dubbed "Government Grant" during his years in civic politics, spoke out during his campaign against Bowman's leadership, telling CBC he didn't "think he was in any way, shape or form ready to be the mayor."
This isn't the first loss for Nichols, who works for the City of Winnipeg as a safety technician. The perennial candidate has previously run for council and for the Green Party in federal and provincial elections.
He ran on a campaign to hold people accountable at city hall
St. George, a nurse who works in community health, is working with the Main Street Project to establish a transitional home for vulnerable people that he calls Albert House, to be directed by nurses.
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