Gillingham wins Winnipeg mayoral race

WINNIPEG — Scott Gillingham won the mayoral election Wednesday night, securing a second term while political newcomers won or led about half of the races for councillor.

Gillingham had 39.7 per cent of all votes Wednesday evening with virtually all polling locations reporting unofficial results, followed by Kevin Klein (20.7 per cent), Noah Redden (19.9 per cent) and Mike Vogiatzakis (9.7 per cent) in a field of 12 candidates.

Kevin Klein conceded defeat in a speech to campaign volunteers and supports, marking his second consecutive loss in a Winnipeg mayoral race.

The other candidates were Mazher Alam, Johnny Calderon, Chris Clacio, Tracey Drexler, Brad Gross, Umar Hayat, Joshua Pagdato and Don Woodstock.

Gillingham led public opinion polls during the campaign, although nearly 60 per cent of 685 respondents in Abacus Data’s final pre-election survey said it’s definitely or probably time for a new mayor.

He tried to position himself as the field’s most credible candidate, citing his 12 years of experience on council, his first-term record and his relationships with the federal and provincial governments — on issues such as homeless strategies and infrastructure funding— among the reasons he deserves more time as mayor.

Klein and Vogiatzakis jockeyed to present themselves as the best alternative to Gillingham. Redden emerged as the leading left-of-centre candidate when a 10-point bump in Abacus Data’s final pre-election opinion poll put him in joint third place with Vogiatzakis.

Redden’s momentum carried through on election day.

Gillingham campaigned on promises to revitalize a stretch of north Main Street, set up a new economic growth office, hire more firefighters and police officers, reduce 311 call wait times and find ways to build mid-rise housing at shopping mall sites and on major transportation corridors.

He said he would stick to council’s previous decisions to raise property taxes by 3.5 per cent and freeze water and sewer rates in 2027. The business tax would also be frozen.

Gillingham’s election promises included keeping future tax hikes close to inflation, and the possibility of a one-time frontage fee hike of $1 per foot in 2028 to raise $18 million for infrastructure projects.

Gillingham, a former Pentecostal pastor, was the councillor for St. James for eight years before he became Winnipeg’s 44th mayor in October 2022. He defeated 10 other candidates including former mayor Glen Murray, who finished second, and Klein, who was third.

Elsewhere in the city, 54 candidates ran for councillor in 15 wards and more than 90 total candidates ran for trustee in six school divisions.

» Winnipeg Free Press