Edmonton incumbent councillors leading in 8 Wards

A lot of familiar faces will be returning to Edmonton City Hall after Monday’s municipal election.

There will be little change in many wards across the city as early results appear to show voters re-elected many of the incumbent council candidates.

Eight of the nine wards with returning council candidates had incumbents leading in the polls by 4:30 p.m. Tuesday, only the southwest Ward ipihkookhanipiaohtsi was too close to call, between Jennifer Rice and Jon Morgan.

In the northwest Edmonton Ward Dene, Aaron Paquette is leading. Paquette is now the longest-serving city councillor, grateful for those who supported him for a third term.

“It’s very humbling. Obviously. Whenever anyone says, ‘Yeah, I’ll cast my vote with you,’” said Paquette.

Paquette sees support for himself and other incumbents as a message from voters that they generally support the status quo.

“What, maybe in January looked like a change election became sort of a maintain election. People didn’t want to have a big upheaval. They just wanted to, you know, go on that course that we’re on in a steady fashion. And it also says that, frankly, the city is fairly supportive of the direction that we’ve been going over the past four years, and understands the challenges we’ve had,” said Paquette.

But one Alberta municipal politics expert doesn’t agree.

“This election really demonstrates the power of incumbency,” said Chaldeans Mensah, a political scientist at MacEwan University.

Mensa says incumbents have a natural advantage because of name recognition and experience.

“The incumbents are benefiting from low voter turnout and a fragmented opposition,” Mensah explained.

With the lowest voter turnout since 2007, plus multiple challengers running against candidates from both the Better Edmonton and Pace Parties in some cases,
Mensah says incumbents shouldn’t take their re-election as glowing support from Edmontonians, who, public opinion polls consistently showed, want to see change.

“This outcome of the election is not an endorsement of the incumbents and their agenda,” said Mensah.

“I think that message that has been sent out is that you guys better behave and shape the way you’re doing things. Even though we didn’t show up to vote, it doesn’t mean we’re endorsing you in terms of your direction.”

The official election results are expected on Friday.