Andy Fillmore elected Halifax’s next mayor [Video]

Former Liberal MP Andy Fillmore will be the next mayor of Halifax, fending off challenges from his nearest rivals in a crowded field of candidates to win Saturday’s municipal election.

He told a room full of supporters at a pub in north-end Halifax that he was “grateful and humbled” to be elected the next mayor of Halifax.

“This is Halifax’s time,” he said. “Our opportunity is here in every corner of HRM. We’ll embrace it, we’ll meet this moment.”

Fillmore, a city planner before he entered federal politics in 2015, has criticized the municipality for allowing new homeless encampments, and campaigned on pledges such as speeding up building permit approvals and improving the flow of traffic.

His nearest challenger, three-term councillor Waye Mason, conceded defeat roughly an hour and a half after polls closed.

As of 7:15 a.m. Sunday, Fillmore had garnered 42.4 per cent of the vote, with Mason …