Runner-up for Edmonton mayor leaves municipal political party he co-founded

Tim Cartmell on the campaign trail as he runs for Edmonton's mayor chair in the 2025 municipal election.

Tim Cartmell is leaving the Edmonton municipal political party he helped establish last year.

The former city councillor, who finished second to Andrew Knack in the mayoral race of last month’s election, said Friday on social media he has “decided to step back” from his role with the Better Edmonton Party.

Cartmell, a professional engineer by trade, said he is “extremely proud” of the group’s effort “to build a new political association.”

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“We brought forward ideas rooted in common sense, accountability and responsible representation,” Cartmell wrote in a post on X, formerly Twitter.

The decidedly conservative party ran a full slate of candidates and saw three of them claim seats on the 13-member city council.

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One of them, Reed Clarke, said Monday he is also leaving the party. Clarke was elected to replace Knack as the representative of Ward Nakota Isga.

Voters also returned eight incumbents to city council in the Oct. 20 vote.

Better Edmonton was one of two local political parties that fielded candidates in the election. Provincial legislation last year allowed for the establishment of them in Calgary and Edmonton.

The minister of municipal affairs said Thursday the province intends to keep the legislation – a part of the Local Authorities Election Act – allowing the political parties in Calgary and Edmonton as it reviews it.