Halifax has elected its first new mayor in over a decade, while voter turnout declined compared to the previous municipal election.
Former MP Andy Fillmore won the mayor’s race in a landslide, beating his closest competitor by 21,000 votes. Fillmore says he’s ready to hit the ground running, with housing and affordability being a top priority.
After Saturday’s victory, the reality is sinking in for the mayor-elect.
“Right up until eight o’clock Saturday night I wasn’t sure how this ball was going to bounce,” said Fillmore, who received 52,413 votes.
A veteran of three federal elections, Fillmore had served as Halifax’s MP since 2015. Before politics, he spent eight years as the Halifax Regional Municipality‘s (HRM) manager of urban design.
The 58-year-old said he’s always been focused on improving and building up Halifax.
“I can’t imagine a better way of doing that more directly …