LIVE: Poll close as 52 candidates battle for 10 councillor seats

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As polls closed across the city, a couple dozen people clustered into The Hampton Hub to watch the votes of the 2024 Regina municipal election come in.

Everybody from toddlers and small children dressed in cozy knitwear to young voters hoping to see mayoral candidate Bevann Fox defy the polls to seniors locked in impassioned conversation about after-school programming at Regina schools settled in to wait for results.

The venue offered chili-and-a-bun and election coverage on the wall-mounted TV in the corner. But at this early hour of the night, the former appears far more popular.

As the wait for results began, Ward 2 councillor candidate André Magnan arrived fresh off a busy final day of get-out-the-vote efforts. He said he was “feeling good” about the campaign. Magnan is looking to unseat incumbent Bob Hawkins, a veteran on council, and is also competing with Chidi Igwe, George Tsiklis, Zaid Hameed, Anamul Akanda and Sanket Patel.

When a flash of early results on TV showed Magnan in the lead, the growing crowd broke into surprised-sounding cheers. “What?” somebody shouted, as Magnan’s name came up ahead.

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Seconds later, a loud round of applause erupted when Ward 6 candidate Victoria Flores’ early lead appeared. Flores is looking to replace outgoing councillor Dan LeBlanc who is not seeking re-election. She’s up against Corey Liebrecht, Glenn Douglas, Julien Levy, Fawaz Adegoke and David Whitrow.

Flores was greeted by enthusiastic hugs and a roomful of cheers as she walked into The Hampton Hub shortly before 9 p.m.

“Look, Victoria, look!” her friends shouted, pointing at the TV screen that displayed preliminary results showing her in the lead.

“So far so good,” she said. “So far so good.”

When results eventually showed Flores had won her seat, she was engulfed in hugs by friends, family, delighted supporters and her parents who were beaming with pride.

“I’m feeling great,” said Flores. “I’m feeling happy, grateful, super-excited.”

Flores said she launched her campaign with a plan to hear from as many Ward 6 candidates as she could meet before election day and she intends to continue listening.

“I learned so much in those conversations about the things that people are wanting changed and the things that people are excited about,” she said. “There’s some immediate things; let’s make an inventory of all the sidewalks that need fixing, to start.

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“I’m really excited to get to know the new council.”

Preliminary results indicated only two of the four incumbents running for re-election will retain their seat. Final declarations will be made by Elections Regina on Thursday by 1 p.m.

As of 11 p.m., George Tsiklis was leading over Bob Hawkins in Ward 2, while Shobna Radons was leading over candidate Terina Nelson in Ward 7.

Incumbent Shanon Zachidniak looks set to hold on to her position in Ward 8 and incumbent Jason Mancinelli was leading in Ward 9.

Throughout the night, Zachidniak said she was cautiously optimistic about the outcome, adding that it’s an “honour to serve my community.”

A number of other wards were showing close races with one poll yet to report, including Ward 1 with Dan Rashovich narrowly in the lead.

“It’s a weird feeling waiting for something out of your hands,” he said shortly before 10 p.m., adding that at least one resident said they waited an hour and a half and still wasn’t able to vote before their polling station closed.

By 9 p.m., close to 50 people had gathered at the restaurant, including a handful of candidates with more supporters arriving by the minute and Ward 10 candidate Chris Simmie reminded the crowd that many of the night’s races were yet to be decided.

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“People are still in line and voting in my neighbourhood,” he said, pointing to a screenful of texts on his phone.

But the longer Magnan maintains his lead in Ward 2, the more the enthusiasm in the room grows.

“Let’s go! Let’s go!” supporters chanted, jumping up and down on the wooden floor, as Magnan gave an affirming first-pump to early results coming in on the TV screen.

Over in Cathedral, Ward 3 candidate David Froh spoke from Pile O’ Bones Brewing Company surrounded by supporters of his own.

“It’s a privilege to attempt to represent your community,” said Froh, who noted he’s door-knocked on more than 5,000 doors. “Ward 3 is just filled with creative, wonderful folks.

“Honestly, it’s a surreal feeling, but also, it’s a very humbling feeling,” he added. “It’s exciting.”

Froh said he’s thankful, regardless of the outcome.

Polling stations across the city livened up throughout the day Wednesday, as eligible voters continue to made their way to cast a ballot in the 2024 municipal and school board elections.

Over at the Ecole Harbour Landing Elementary School station, the morning started off quiet, as incumbent Mayor Sandra Masters cast her vote. She is being challenged by 10 others for the mayor’s chair, while 52 candidates are vying for 10 councillor seats.

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By 10 a.m., the polling station at Ecole Dr. A.E. Perry Elementary School was bustling.

A steady stream of voters came and went, a vibrant rainbow-painted walkway underfoot and a bright sun glaring from the clear blue sky overhead.

And lineups at other polls across the city grew as the day went on, with trails out the door and halfway down the block at Lakeview School in the afternoon.

There will be at least six new councillor faces sitting around the horseshoe in Henry Baker Hall after the election.

Couns. Cheryl Stadnichuk (Ward 1), Andrew Stevens (Ward 3), John Findura (Ward 5), Dan LeBlanc (Ward 6) and Landon Mohl (Ward 10) are not seeking re-election while Coun. Lori Bresciani (Ward 4) is making a run for the mayor’s chair.

You can find more details on the candidates and their platforms here.

We asked everyone running for a council seat what the most important issue is in their ward, whether they’re endorsed by a third-party advocacy group and where they stand regarding the controversial new aquatic centre.

Hover over the map below to see who is running in your area.

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Worth noting is that ward boundaries are different than the 2020 election.

Results for the mayoral race can be found here and results for both Regina public and Regina Catholic school board trustees will be available here.

jupeterson@postmedia.com

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