Finding out who won in Lethbridge’s municipal election came with headaches

Municipal election results across Alberta became official at noon on Friday.

In Lethbridge, there were no changes in who was elected between the unofficial and official results.

Blaine Hyggen is back as mayor.

“It’s been an honour to serve 12 years. Eight as council, four as mayor, and to continue this, these next four years,” Hyggen said in a recent interview.

City council includes:

• Belinda Crowson;
• Jenn Schmidt-Rempel;
• Rajko Dodic;
• Ryan Wolfe;
• Al Beeber;
• Rufa Doria;
• Mark Campbell; and
• Ryan Parker.

“We congratulate the mayor-elect and council-elect and look forward to working with them for the 2025-2029 term,” returning officer Bonnie Hilford said in a release issued on Friday.

The mayor and city council are locked in, but the process of finding out who won came with headaches.

Bill 20 forced all municipalities to count votes by hand, instead of using tabulators.

Instead of a few hours, it took three days for Lethbridge’s mayor and council to be unofficially declared.

The election cost the city $600,000, which was double the 2021 budget.

Despite the increase, Lethbridge still spent less than other cities.

Red Deer spent $1.5 million and had five advance voting days compared to Lethbridge’s eight.

“We kept our costs as low as possible while adhering to the province’s new regulations and stayed within our budget to conduct this election,” Hilford said.

“But, even doing this, the cost of the 2025 election increased by more than $300,000, and the total price tag was double compared to 2021.”

Hilford offered thanks to the “hundreds of residents who were hired.”

“An election of this magnitude takes a lot of planning and dedicated people to ensure voters can successfully cast their ballots,” she said.

With just 17,152 ballots cast, turnout for this election in Lethbridge was less than 20 per cent—significantly lower than the past several.

The new mayor and council will be sworn in on Monday.

Election results for local school board trustees were also made official on Friday.

Lethbridge Public School Division trustees include:

• Cheryl Meheden;
• Christine Light;
• Kristina Larkin;
• Allison Purcell;
• Brooke Culley;
• Craig H. Whitehead; and
• Tiffany Hill.

Holy Spirit Catholic School Division trustees include:

• Carmen Mombourquette;
• Linda Ellefson;
• Tricia Doherty;
• Bob Spitzig; and
• Roisin Gibb.

With files by Karen Marczuk