2020 Halifax municipal election

Last updated
2020 Halifax mayoral election
←  2016 October 17, 20202024 →
Turnout39.83%
 
Nominee Mike Savage Matt WhitmanMax Taylor
Popular vote102,73513,49711,928
Percentage80.16%10.53%9.31%
Mayor before election

Mike Savage

Elected Mayor

Mike Savage

Halifax City Hall Halifax City Hall, summer 2014.jpg
Halifax City Hall

The 2020 Halifax municipal election was held on 17 October 2020 to elect councillors and a mayor to a four-year term on the Halifax Regional Council, the governing body of the Halifax Regional Municipality. Members of the Conseil scolaire acadien provincial were also elected. [1] The election was held in conjunction with municipal elections across the province.

Contents

Of the 16 incumbent councillors, 11 ran for re-election. Of those, nine retained their seats. Mike Savage sought another term as mayor, competing for the position against incumbent councillor Matt Whitman and social media personality and copywriter Max Taylor. Savage was handily re-elected, capturing over 80 per cent of votes cast for the position.

A record number of women were elected, achieving gender parity on Halifax council for the first time.

Electoral system

Councillors (elected by residents of each of the 16 electoral districts) and the mayor (elected at-large by all voters) are chosen using the first-past-the-post voting system. Each district elects one councillor; the candidate with the most votes wins. There are no political parties at the municipal level in Nova Scotia.

The boundaries of the 16 districts, updated in 2015, were the same as those used in the 2016 election. [2]

Synopsis

Council chambers, Halifax City Hall Council Chambers, Halifax City Hall.jpg
Council chambers, Halifax City Hall

In the run-up to the election, four incumbent councillors declared their intentions to retire from municipal politics. In October 2019, longtime Spryfield councillor Steve Adams (District 11) announced that he would not re-offer in the following year's election. Adams was first elected in 1991. [3] Veteran Dartmouth councillor Bill Karsten (District 3) announced in May 2020 that he would not run again. [4] Lorelei Nicoll (District 4) and Russell Walker (District 10) followed suit in July 2020. [5] [6]

The first confirmed mayoral candidate was Matt Whitman, the incumbent councillor in District 13. Whitman announced his campaign at the Grand Parade in October 2019. [7] Incumbent mayor Mike Savage announced his candidacy for re-election in March 2020. [8] A third candidate, Max Taylor, joined the race in September 2020. Taylor's platform centred on encouraging Halifax residents to "get out and vote". [9]

Local market research firm Narrative Research (formerly Corporate Research Associates) polled the public in August 2020 to gauge support for Savage and Whitman (Taylor had not yet nominated). Of the decided voters polled, 89 per cent stated that they would vote for Savage for mayor. [10]

District 12 candidate Eric Jury attracted controversy after publishing a video in which he promised, if elected, to "bring any motion you want forward" on behalf of anyone who donated over $100 to his campaign. Jury's entry on the municipality's online list of candidates included a link to the video. Richard Zurawski, the incumbent councillor for District 12, stated that he was "absolutely floored" by the video, and expressed concern that municipal staff had apparently not vetted material posted to the elections website. The legality of Jury's proclamation was questioned. A city spokesperson responded, "the returning officer for the election has reached out to this candidate, and the video has been removed. No further action will be taken at this time." [11] Jury received only two per cent of votes cast in the district, and was not elected. [12]

Advance telephone and Internet polls ran from October 6 to 14. Advance in-person polls ran from October 10 to 13. The election was held on October 17. [13]

Mike Savage was re-elected as mayor by a large margin, earning a greater share of votes (80 per cent) than in 2016 (68 per cent). A record number of women (eight) were elected, achieving gender parity on council for the first time in history. [14] In contrast, only two women were elected in the 2016 election. [15] Of the 11 incumbent councillors that ran for re-election, nine retained their seats while two (Steve Streatch and Richard Zurawski) did not.

The results for most districts were known by the end of election day, as the unofficial results provided a clear indication of the winning candidates. However, the race in District 11 was too close to call, as Patty Cuttell led Bruce Holland by a small margin and results from two polls had not been published. The results were issued the following afternoon, with Cuttell winning the race by 28 votes. [14] The municipal returning officer attributed the delay to confusion surrounding the tallying of two advance polls, as well as a large number of new, inexperienced election staff. [16] Holland requested an official recount, commenting that the number of spoiled and rejected ballots was greater than the 28 votes that won the race. [17] On 28 October 2020, the judicial recount was officially ordered. [18] The recount confirmed Cuttell's win. [19]

Voter turnout increased over the previous election. In 2016, only 33.62 per cent of eligible residents voted. In 2020, approximately 39.65 per cent voted. [20] A professor of political science at Cape Breton University commented that the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic may have prompted a stronger interest in community affairs. The pandemic may also have encouraged the use of e-voting. [21]

The new council was sworn in on 29 October 2020 at the Halifax Convention Centre with the exception of Patty Cuttell, who had to await the results of the District 11 recount. [22] [18] Cuttell was sworn in on 10 November. [23]

Candidates and results

Note: The figures below do not take into account spoiled or rejected ballots.

Mayor

Mike Savage was re-elected as mayor.

CandidateVotes%
Mike Savage (incumbent)102,73580.16
Matt Whitman13,49710.53
Max Taylor11,9289.31
Total128,160100
Registered voters/turnout322,23239.77
Source: Halifax Regional Municipality [12]

District 1: Waverley - Fall River - Musquodoboit Valley

Cathy Deagle Gammon was elected, unseating incumbent Steve Streatch.

CandidateVotes%
Cathy Deagle Gammon3,06242.38
Steve Streatch (incumbent)2,95340.87
Stephen Kamperman1,00513.91
Arthur Wamback2052.84
Total7,225100
Registered voters/turnout16,68643.30
Source: Halifax Regional Municipality [12]

District 2: Preston - Chezzetcook - Eastern Shore

Incumbent David Hendsbee was re-elected.

CandidateVotes%
David Hendsbee (incumbent)4,37950.90
Nicoll Johnson2,43628.32
Tim Milligan1,53817.88
David Boyd2502.91
Total8,603100
Registered voters/turnout20,60941.74
Source: Halifax Regional Municipality [12]

District 3: Dartmouth South - Eastern Passage

Incumbent Bill Karsten did not re-offer. [24] Becky Kent, who served as regional councillor for the former Woodside-Eastern Passage district from 2004 to 2007, was elected.

CandidateVotes%
Becky Kent 4,30943.44
Vishal Bhardwaj1,81818.33
Lloyd Jackson1,57515.88
Clinton Desveaux1,28312.93
George Mbamalu9349.42
Total9,919100
Registered voters/turnout22,85143.41
Source: Halifax Regional Municipality [12]

District 4: Cole Harbour - Westphal

Incumbent Lorelei Nicoll did not re-offer. [5] Trish Purdy was elected.

CandidateVotes%
Trish Purdy1,63419.70
Darryl Johnson1,29415.60
Jessica Quillan1,11113.40
Chris Mont1,03912.53
Kevin Foran85810.35
Tania Meloni7589.14
John Stewart5977.20
Jamie MacNeil4515.44
Jerome Lagmay1692.04
Ryan Burris1441.74
Caroline Williston1251.51
Marisa DeMarco1131.36
Total8,293100
Registered voters/turnout19,70942.08
Source: Halifax Regional Municipality [12]

District 5: Dartmouth Centre

Incumbent Sam Austin was re-elected.

CandidateVotes%
Sam Austin (incumbent)7,76982.07
Mitch McIntyre1,69717.93
Total9,466100
Registered voters/turnout22,29242.46
Source: Halifax Regional Municipality [12]

District 6: Harbourview - Burnside - Dartmouth East

Incumbent Tony Mancini was re-elected.

CandidateVotes%
Tony Mancini (incumbent)5,63779.72
Ibrahim Manna96013.58
Douglas Day4746.70
Total7,071100
Registered voters/turnout20,14235.11
Source: Halifax Regional Municipality [12]

District 7: Halifax South Downtown

Incumbent Waye Mason was re-elected.

CandidateVotes%
Waye Mason (incumbent)3,72862.11
Jen Powley1,88231.36
Craig Roy2874.78
Richard Arundel-Evans1051.75
Total6,002100
Registered voters/turnout18,51232.42
Source: Halifax Regional Municipality [12]

District 8: Halifax Peninsula North

Incumbent Lindell Smith was re-elected.

CandidateVotes%
Lindell Smith (incumbent)5,77967.88
Virginia Hinch2,26126.56
Dylan Kennedy4735.56
Total8,513100
Registered voters/turnout21,10040.35
Source: Halifax Regional Municipality [12]

District 9: Halifax West Armdale

Incumbent Shawn Cleary was re-elected.

CandidateVotes%
Shawn Cleary (incumbent)3,88041.72
Stephen Foster2,91331.32
Bill Carr1,84619.85
Shaun Clark3754.03
Gerry Lonergan2863.08
Total9,300100
Registered voters/turnout21,51143.23
Source: Halifax Regional Municipality [12]

District 10: Halifax - Bedford Basin West

Incumbent Russell Walker did not re-offer. [25] Kathryn Morse was elected.

CandidateVotes%
Kathryn Morse1,92427.48
Debbie MacKinnon1,28618.37
Renee Field1,19017.00
Andrew Curran1,10015.71
Mohammad Ehsan85012.14
Sherry Hassanali3725.31
Kyle Morton1652.36
Christopher Hurry1151.64
Total7,002100
Registered voters/turnout19,15436.56
Source: Halifax Regional Municipality [12]

District 11: Spryfield - Sambro Loop - Prospect Road

Incumbent Steve Adams did not re-offer. [26] Patty Cuttell was elected.

CandidateVotes%
Patty Cuttell1,66219.58
Bruce Holland 1,63519.25
Matthew Conrad1,48217.46
Pete Rose97211.45
Bruce Cooke7819.20
Hannah Munday4655.48
Jim Hoskins4415.19
Ambroise Matwawana3093.65
Stephen Chafe2743.23
Lisa Mullin2522.97
Kristen Hollery1511.77
Dawn Edith Penney660.78
Total8,490100
Registered voters/turnout20,84440.73
Source: Halifax Regional Municipality [12] [27]

District 12: Timberlea - Beechville - Clayton Park - Wedgewood

Iona Stoddard was elected, unseating incumbent Richard Zurawski.

CandidateVotes%
Iona Stoddard3,07437.65
Richard Zurawski (incumbent)2,67532.76
John Bignell2,24327.47
Eric Jury1732.12
Total8,165100
Registered voters/turnout20,96838.94
Source: Halifax Regional Municipality [12]

District 13: Hammonds Plains - St. Margarets

Incumbent councillor Matt Whitman did not re-offer as he ran for mayor. Candidates are not allowed to run for mayor and councillor at the same time. [28] Pam Lovelace was elected.

CandidateVotes%
Pam Lovelace3,44436.26
Nick Horne2,16422.78
Darrell Jessome1,80819.03
Tim Elms1,05311.09
Harry Ward3233.40
Tom Arnold3073.23
Robert Holden1781.87
Iain Taylor1441.52
Derek Bellemore780.82
Total9,499100
Registered voters/turnout19,84547.87
Source: Halifax Regional Municipality [12]

District 14: Middle/Upper Sackville - Beaver Bank - Lucasville

Incumbent Lisa Blackburn was re-elected.

CandidateVotes%
Lisa Blackburn (incumbent)4,89885.11
Greg Frampton85714.89
Total5,755100
Registered voters/turnout18,01231.95
Source: Halifax Regional Municipality [12]

District 15: Lower Sackville

Incumbent Paul Russell was re-elected.

CandidateVotes%
Paul Russell (incumbent)2,90151.56
Jay Aaron Roy91616.46
David Schofield64811.68
Mary Lou LeRoy64411.60
Anthony Mrkonjic4808.71
Total5,589100
Registered voters/turnout16,74733.37
Source: Halifax Regional Municipality [12]

District 16: Bedford - Wentworth

Incumbent Tim Outhit was re-elected by acclamation. [29] [30]

Conseil scolaire acadien provincial

Three candidates for the Conseil scolaire acadien provincial were elected by acclamation, namely: Jeff Arsenault, Katherine Howlett, and Marc Pinet. [12]

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References

  1. ↑ "Municipal elections". Halifax Regional Municipality. Retrieved 29 June 2020.
  2. ↑ "Current Polling District Boundaries". Halifax Regional Municipality. Retrieved 16 September 2020.
  3. ↑ Munro, Nicole (18 October 2019). "Halifax councillor Stephen Adams will not reoffer in next municipal election". The Chronicle Herald.
  4. ↑ Campbell, Francis (25 May 2020). "Veteran HRM councillor Bill Karsten announces he won't reoffer this fall". Halifax Chroncle-Herald.
  5. 1 2 Woodford, Zane (6 July 2020). "Halifax regional councillor Lorelei Nicoll announces she won't run again". Halifax Examiner .
  6. ↑ Groff, Megham (22 July 2020). "Russell Walker not reoffering in upcoming municipal election".
  7. ↑ Woodford, Zane (30 October 2019). "Councillor Matt Whitman announces he's running to be mayor of Halifax". Star Halifax.
  8. ↑ Benjamin, Graeme (11 March 2020). "Halifax Mayor Mike Savage announces he'll run for third term". Global News.
  9. ↑ Woodford, Zane (8 September 2020). "'I could win:' Halifax has a third mayoral candidate — and he's famous on TikTok". Halifax Examiner.
  10. ↑ Woodford, Zane (3 September 2020). "Nine out of 10 decided voters would choose Halifax Mayor Mike Savage over Coun. Matt Whitman according to a new poll". Halifax Examiner.
  11. ↑ Woodford, Zane (27 August 2020). "Halifax candidate guaranteed 'voice on council' for campaign donations over $100 in since-deleted video". Halifax Examiner.
  12. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 "Official Candidates - 2020 Municipal and CSAP Elections" (PDF). Halifax Regional Municipality. Retrieved 3 November 2020.
  13. ↑ Lightstone, Michael (15 September 2020). "Q&A with Halifax's three mayoral candidates". Halifax Today.
  14. 1 2 Tattrie, John (18 October 2020). "Last council winner gives Halifax gender parity for the first time". CBC News.
  15. ↑ Gorman, Michael (17 October 2020). "Record number of female councillors elected in HRM, Mike Savage returned as mayor". CBC News.
  16. ↑ Berman, Pam (19 October 2020). "Results of tight race in Halifax's District 11 slowed by new staff, poll confusion". CBC News.
  17. ↑ Berman, Pam (20 October 2020). "Halifax candidate asks for official recount after 28-vote loss". CBC News.
  18. 1 2 Renic, Karla (28 October 2020). "Swearing-in for Halifax Regional Municipality councillor delayed due to vote recount". Global News.
  19. ↑ Quon, Alexander; Renic, Karla (2 November 2020). "Patty Cuttell confirmed as councillor of Halifax's District 11 after judicial recount". Global News.
  20. ↑ Campbell, Francis (18 October 2020). "Voter turnout surpasses that of recent Halifax Regional Municipality elections". Halifax Chronicle-Herald.
  21. ↑ Moore, Kyle (19 October 2020). "Pandemic might have spurred more to vote in municipal elections: political scientist". CTV News.
  22. ↑ Brand, Matt (29 October 2020). "HRM council swearing-in ceremony goes Thursday night". Halifax Today.
  23. ↑ "Patty Cuttell to be sworn in today ahead of Regional Council". Global News. 10 November 2020.
  24. ↑ Quon, Alexander (25 May 2020). "Halifax Coun. Bill Karsten will not run for re-election in upcoming municipal vote". Global News.
  25. ↑ Quon, Alexander (22 July 2020). "Russell Walker to retire from Halifax municipal council after 27 years". Global News.
  26. ↑ Campbell, Frances (12 June 2020). "Eleven candidates challenging for HRM district seat held by Adams". Halifax Chronicle-Herald.
  27. ↑ "District 11 Re-count" (PDF). Halifax Regional Municipality. Retrieved 3 November 2020.
  28. ↑ Quon, Alexander (30 October 2019). "'Halifax's worst-kept secret': Matt Whitman announces he's running for mayor". Global News.
  29. ↑ Quon, Alexander (12 August 2020). "Tim Outhit to re-offer as Halifax councillor in October election". Global News.
  30. ↑ Munro, Nicole (9 September 2020). "Incumbent, councillor, TikTok star: 3 men in running for mayor of Halifax". The Chronicle Herald.
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