Saskatchewan

Who's running for mayor in the 2024 Regina civic election

An incumbent mayor, a two-term councillor, a former non-profit executive and an advocate for homeless people are part of a jam-packed field.

11 candidates running for mayor in the Nov. 13 election

A graphic showing the headshots of 11 people arranged around a title. The text reads "Regina Votes 2024."
There are 11 candidates for mayor in the 2024 Regina civic election. Top, left to right: Melina Bushenlonga, Bill Pratt, Lori Bresciani, Bob Pearce, Shawn Sparvier, Rod Williams. Second row, left to right: Nathaniel Hewton, Bevann Fox, Chad Bachynski, Kevin Kardash and Sandra Masters. (CBC/City of Regina)

Regina's municipal election is now underway and there are 11 candidates running for mayor.

Voters head to the polls on Nov. 13, 2024.

CBC Saskatchewan will be airing a live election special that day beginning at 8 p.m. CST. 

CBC Radio's The Morning Edition host Stefani Langenegger invited each of the Regina mayoral candidates to an interview ahead of the municipal election. Nine agreed to come into our studios. Nathaniel Hewton and Rod Williams cancelled or did not respond to our requests. Watch the interviews and learn more about each candidate below.

Chad Bachynski

Chad Bachynski is a manager with SaskEnergy. His campaign is advocating for a more focused and cohesive city council.

Bachynski wants to strategically invest in infrastructure to slow property tax increases. He also wants to improve safety and public transit.

Chad Bachynski on why he wants to be Regina's mayor

22 days ago
Duration 8:29
CBC Radio's The Morning Edition host Stefani Langenegger invited each of the Regina mayoral candidates for an interview ahead of the municipal election on Nov. 13, 2024. There are 11 people running for mayor of Regina. Nine agreed to on-camera interviews.

Lori Bresciani 

Lori Bresciani has served eight years as the councillor for Ward 4 in Regina. Now, she's challenging the incumbent mayor over concerns the city is no longer living within its means.

Her major concerns are the city's spending and using millions of dollars in debt to potentially build major projects such as a revitalized central library and a new aquatic centre.

Lori Bresciani on why she wants to be Regina's mayor

22 days ago
Duration 11:06
CBC Radio's The Morning Edition host Stefani Langenegger invited each of the Regina mayoral candidates for an interview ahead of the municipal election on Nov. 13, 2024. There are 11 people running for mayor of Regina. Nine agreed to on-camera interviews.

Melina Bushenlonga

A woman in a dark suit poses for a photograph.
Melina Bushenlonga is running to be mayor of Regina. (City of Regina)

Melina Bushenlonga has promised to create a safer community and improve city infrastructure. Bushenlonga is also campaigning on financial accountability and transparency on city spending.

Bushenlonga did not want to be on video for her interview with The Morning Edition. You can listen to her conversation with Stefani Langenegger instead:
One of the candidates for mayor says she would re-negotiate city contracts to get a better deal for taxpayers. She says the cost of everything from garbage collection to water is far too high. We'll find out how she would try to cut those.

Bevann Fox

Bevann Fox is a member of the Pasqua First Nation, an author and an artist. She wants to improve the city by supporting everyone and building relationships within the community.

Bevann Fox on why she wants to be Regina's mayor

22 days ago
Duration 11:24
CBC Radio's The Morning Edition host Stefani Langenegger invited each of the Regina mayoral candidates for an interview ahead of the municipal election on Nov. 13, 2024. There are 11 people running for mayor of Regina. Nine agreed to on-camera interviews.

Nathaniel Hewton

Nathaniel Hewton is an advocate for homeless people. He has portrayed his candidacy as a campaign of public service. Hewton has promised to use his own salary to fund his ongoing "Soup After Dark" initiative, which provides meals to those in need.

A man stands in front of a grey and white background. He is wearing a brown jacket over a light brown shirt.
Nathaniel Hewton is running to be mayor of Regina. (City of Regina)

Kevin Kardash

Kevin Kardash serves as the president of the Regina Lions Club. He's promised transparency, accountability and dignity for all.

Kevin Kardash on why he wants to be Regina's mayor

22 days ago
Duration 7:26
CBC Saskatchewan's The Morning Edition host Stefani Langenegger invited each of the Regina mayoral candidates for a sit down interview ahead of the municipal election on Nov. 13, 2024. There are 11 people running for mayor of Regina. Nine agreed to on-camera interviews.

Sandra Masters

Sandra Masters has served as Regina's mayor for four years and is now running as the incumbent. 

During her successful mayoral campaign in 2020, Masters campaigned on creating a new aquatic centre. She will now head into this election with that project's budget approved, but construction not set to begin until 2025. She is focused on infrastructure renewal and financial accountability.

Sandra Masters on why she wants to be Regina's mayor

22 days ago
Duration 11:25
CBC Radio's The Morning Edition host Stefani Langenegger invited each of the Regina mayoral candidates for an interview ahead of the municipal election on Nov. 13, 2024. There are 11 people running for mayor of Regina. Nine agreed to on-camera interviews.

Bob Pearce

Bob Pearce, also known as "Dancing Bob" for his appearances at events, says his campaign is focused on love and compassion, rather than "force and coercion."

Bob Pearce on why he wants to be Regina's mayor

22 days ago
Duration 6:13
CBC Radio's The Morning Edition host Stefani Langenegger invited each of the Regina mayoral candidates for an interview ahead of the municipal election on Nov. 13, 2024. There are 11 people running for mayor of Regina. Nine agreed to on-camera interviews.

Bill Pratt

Bill Pratt is the former executive of Eden Care Homes, a non-profit focused on low-income housing and senior care.

He's portrayed his candidacy as an attempt to get the city back on track, with a focus on making downtown Regina vibrant and welcoming. He also wants to increase the population, strengthen the business community, and lead with integrity and collaboration.

Bill Pratt on why he wants to be Regina's mayor

22 days ago
Duration 12:30
CBC Radio's The Morning Edition host Stefani Langenegger invited each of the Regina mayoral candidates for an interview ahead of the municipal election on Nov. 13, 2024. There are 11 people running for mayor of Regina. Nine agreed to on-camera interviews.

Shawn Sparvier 

Shawn Sparvier is a member of Cowessess First Nation and describes himself as an outside-the-box thinker. He believes it's important to incorporate the principles of truth and reconciliation into every decision the city makes.  

Shawn Sparvier on why he wants to be Regina's mayor

22 days ago
Duration 7:51
CBC Radio's The Morning Edition host Stefani Langenegger invited each of the Regina mayoral candidates for an interview ahead of the municipal election on Nov. 13, 2024. There are 11 people running for mayor of Regina. Nine agreed to on-camera interviews.

Rod Williams 

Rod Williams is a former Regina Pats player who worked at Ipsco and Evraz for 34 years. He's focused on ensuring Regina remains affordable and protecting the city's tax dollars.

A man stands in front of a grey and white background. They are wearing a black suit over a purple shirt.
Rod Williams is running to be mayor of Regina. (City of Regina)

Council and school board details

Six of the 10 city councillor races will not feature an incumbent.

For the full list of city council and school board trustee candidates, visit the City of Regina's official candidate list here.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Alexander Quon has been a reporter with CBC Saskatchewan since 2021 and is happy to be back working in his hometown of Regina after half a decade in Atlantic Canada. He has previously worked with the CBC News investigative unit in Nova Scotia and Global News in Halifax. Alexander specializes in municipal political coverage and data-reporting. He can be reached at: alexander.quon@cbc.ca.

With files from CBC Radio's The Morning Edition