Yorkton elects new mayor Mitch Hippsley

Hippsley becomes new Yorkton mayor WATCH: Mitch Hippsley won by a narrow margin Monday night, and plans to take a hard look at the city budget. Kaylyn Whibbs reports.

YORKTON — Mitch Hippsley has won the race to the mayor’s chair to replace Bob Maloney on Monday night.

Hippsley, former-councillor, won the tight race with a total of 2,000 votes on Nov. 9, a slim margin of 86 over his opponent and fellow councillor, Aaron Kienle.

Quinn Haider led the number of votes among the councillor candidates with a total of 2,426 votes, followed by fellow incumbents Darcy Zaharia and Randy Goulden and Ken Chyz.

Dustin Brears is a new face to City council this term and Chris Wyatt, a former mayor and councillor, rounds out the six.

The election came down to the very last poll late Monday night after about a month of campaigning for the two local businessmen.

After being named the mayor-elect watching the results come in at the Gallagher Centre Hippsley said he was humbled and is looking forward to getting to work.

“It would probably be going straight into budget, and really taking a good hard look at numbers, and not treating it lightly. I feel that there's some opportunities in those budgets to give people more bang for their buck,” said Hippsley.

Hippsley, who has owned a photography business in town for the past 37 years, campaigned on continuing investing in family amenities, marketing Yorkton to the greater population, along with focusing on city spending and a zero tax increase.

Opponent Kienle said he hoped to work on issues such as infrastructure, outdoor recreation and other existing projects such as the Gallagher Centre renovations.

Hippsley will replace Bob Maloney, who is retiring from municipal politics after being involved with City Council for 17 years.

The new mayor and his council are set to be sworn in at the council meeting on Nov. 13.