CHAT News File Photo

By Chris Brown

Hatters vote 'yes' in provincial referendums

Change at city council, mostly incumbents elected to school boards

Oct 19, 2021 | 10:40 AM

MEDICINE HAT, AB – Change emerged as a common theme during the municipal election campaign in Medicine Hat, and it wasn’t just talk.

Linnsie Clark unseated incumbent Ted Clugston in the mayoral race, and just two incumbent councillors were re-elected on Monday evening.

Unofficial results show Clark with 13,151 votes, nearly two-thirds of the total 19,797 votes cast. Clugston garnered 4,639 votes followed by Alan Rose at 1,562, Tony Leahy at 319 and Michael Starner at 126.

The results won’t become official until Oct. 22 at noon.

In the council race, Robert Dumanowski, fourth with 7,737 votes, and Darren Hirsch, eighth with 5,283, return to council. They are joined by Ramona Robins (8,113), Andy McGrogan (8,095), Allison Knodel (8,083), Alison Van Dyke (7,225), Cassi Hider (6,747) and Shila Sharps (5,901).

IN THE COMMUNITY

'Compassionate Friends' offer peer support for bereaved in Medicine Hat

1h ago

POSTAL STRIKE

Donations to Medicine Hat non-profits drop over Canada Post strike

1h ago

IN THE COMMUNITY

Medicine Hat's Adopt-A-Rink program still seeking volunteers

9h ago

Incumbents Brian Varga (4,403) and Phil Turnbull (4,253) placed ninth and tenth.

Voter turnout was about 40 per cent, about half of which was from advance polls.

You can find full results on the city’s website.

READ MORE: Election results from southeastern Alberta

Former public school administrator Patrick Grisonich was the leading vote-getter in the Medicine Hat Public School Division board of trustees election with 5,839 votes. He was followed by incumbents Rick Massini (5,094), Catherine Wilson (4,942) and Deborah Forbes (4,653). Yvonne Sissons has 3,154 votes for the final seat.

For the Medicine Hat Catholic Board of Education, incumbents Kathy Glasgo (2,148), David Leahy (2,054), Dick Mastel (1,729) and Robert Risling (1,718) occupy the top four spots. Bernie Kinch at 1,303 and Alicia Doud at 1,288 are in a tight race for the final spot.

Medicine Hat voters gave their approval to the pair of provincial referendum questions on the ballot.

On the question of equalization, which read “Should Section 36(2) of the Constitution Act, 1982 –Parliament and the government of Canada’s commitment to the principle of making equalization payments – be removed from the Constitution?,” 12,846 Hatters voted “yes” and 5,667 voted “no.”

On the Daylight Saving Time question, which read “Do you want Alberta to adopt year-round Daylight Saving Time, which is summer hours, eliminating the need to change our clocks twice a year?,” the vote was 12,113 for “yes” and 7,473 for “no.”

In Alberta’s senate election, Pam Davidson, Erika Barootes and Mykhailo Martyniouk were the top three vote-getters in Medicine Hat. All three represent the Conservative Party of Canada.