Many municipal leaders defeated as election results roll in

Halifax residents line up to cast their votes on Saturday. (Gareth Hampshire/CBC - image credit)
Halifax residents line up to cast their votes on Saturday. (Gareth Hampshire/CBC - image credit)

A number of incumbents have gone down to defeat in Saturday's municipal elections in Nova Scotia, including some high-profile mayors and a 30-year veteran of municipal politics.

In Wolfville, mayor Wendy Donovan lost to two-term councillor Jodi MacKay. In Amherst, two-term mayor David Kogon was defeated by Rob Small, who was the town's mayor from 2008 to 2015, when he decided not to reoffer.

Carolyn Bolivar-Getson, the president of the Nova Scotia Federation of Municipalities, was unseated as mayor of the Municipality of the District of Lunenburg. Bolivar-Getson, a former provincial cabinet minister, was beaten by Elspeth McLean-Wile.

McLean-Wile told CBC News that early into her campaigning she heard people say they were ready for change.

"I just felt that during all of the summer months and it just kept building as the fall [arrived] and we approached election day."

She said her first job would be working with returning and new councillors to tackle challenges in the community.

Former Liberal MP Andy Fillmore will be the next mayor of Halifax, fending off challenges from his nearest rivals in a crowded field of candidates.

Abraham Zebian, the incumbent mayor of the West Hants Regional Municipality, is running against three people. He's pictured waitin for results on election night.
Abraham Zebian, the incumbent mayor of the West Hants Regional Municipality, is running against three people. He's pictured waitin for results on election night.

Abraham Zebian, the incumbent mayor of the West Hants Regional Municipality, seated in a white shirt, is pictured waiting for results on election night at the municipality's council chambers. (Luke Ettinger/CBC)

Longtime political veteran Cecil Clarke staged a comeback on Saturday, retaking the mayor's office in Cape Breton Regional Municipality. He previously served as mayor from 2012 to 2020.

Nine candidates were hoping to be the next mayor of the CBRM, with housing and high property taxes common issues they said were priorities. Current mayor Amanda McDougall did not run again.

Elections were held in nearly 50 towns and municipalities in Nova Scotia. Mayors were acclaimed in a number, including Bridgewater, Truro and Digby, but there were mayoral races in towns such as Kentville, Antigonish and Port Hawkesbury.

In Kentville, Andrew Zebian was elected mayor, defeating two other candidates. The current mayor, Sandra Snow, did not reoffer.

Scott Christian is the new mayor for the Region of Queens Municipality.

In the Town of Shelburne, Stanley (Tanny) Jacklin was elected mayor and becomes the town's first Black mayor.

"I'm overwhelmed with what's happened this evening," Jacklin told CBC News.

Jacklin said he thinks voters were drawn to his integrity and ability to listen to and bring people together. He said affordable housing was the most common issue people raised with him, followed by safety and the need for more business in the community.

"A lot of the younger people are living with their parents because of the fact of the matter that affordable housing is not attainable at this time."

Andy Fillmore, centre, is shown with supporters on Saturday, Oct. 19, 2024, following his victory in the Halifax mayoral election.
Andy Fillmore, centre, is shown with supporters on Saturday, Oct. 19, 2024, following his victory in the Halifax mayoral election.

Andy Fillmore, centre, is shown with supporters on Saturday, Oct. 19, 2024, following his victory in the Halifax mayoral election. (Gareth Hampshire/CBC)

In the Town of Yarmouth, Pam Mood was re-elected as mayor, and in the Town of Lunenburg, incumbent Jamie Myra also won. Former CAO and incumbent mayor Amery Boyer was re-elected in Annapolis Royal. She is joined by an all-female group of first-time councillors.

In the Municipality of the District of Guysborough, the longtime warden, Vernon Pitts, was handily defeated in District 6 by Susan Cashin. Pitts was first elected to council in 1994.

Some municipalities shared their results on their websites, while others relied on social media. Here are links to the election pages of towns and municipalities in the province:

Regional municipalities

Cape Breton  in-person.
Halifax – in-person.
Queens – telephone/online/in-person.
West Hants – telephone/online/in-person.

County municipalities

Annapolis – telephone/online (electronic only).
Antigonish – in-person.
Colchester – telephone/online/in-person.
Cumberland – telephone/online/in-person.
Inverness – telephone/online (electronic only).
Kings –  telephone/online (electronic only).
Pictou – telephone/online (electronic only).
Richmond – in-person.
Victoria – telephone/online (electronic only).

District municipalities

Argyle – in-person.
Barrington – in-person.
Chester – telephone/online (electronic only).
Clare – in-person.
Digby – telephone/online (electronic only).
East Hants – telephone/online (electronic only).
Guysborough – telephone/online (electronic only).
Lunenburg – telephone/online (electronic only).
Shelburne – telephone/online (electronic only).
St. Mary's – telephone/online (electronic only).
Yarmouth – in-person.

Towns

Amherst – telephone/online (electronic only).
Annapolis Royal – telephone/online (electronic only).
Antigonish – telephone/online/in-person.
Berwick – telephone/online/in-person.
Bridgewater – telephone/online (electronic only).
Clark's Harbour – in-person.
Digby – telephone/online (electronic only).
Kentville – in-person.
Lockeport – in-person.
Lunenburg – telephone/online (electronic only).
Mahone Bay – telephone/online (electronic only).
Middleton – telephone/online (electronic only).
Mulgrave – No voting in Mulgrave this year. Mayor and four councillors acclaimed.
New Glasgow – telephone/online (electronic only).
Oxford – telephone/online/in-person.
Pictou – telephone/online (electronic only).
Port Hawkesbury – telephone/online (electronic only).
Shelburne – telephone/online (electronic only).
Stellarton – telephone/online (electronic only).
Stewiacke – telephone/online/in-person.
Trenton – telephone/online (electronic only).
Truro – telephone/online (electronic only).
Westville – telephone/online (electronic only).
Wolfville – telephone/online (electronic only).
Yarmouth – telephone/online/in-person.

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