All four incumbents were re-elected to city council Wednesday evening and two new faces joined council.
Incumbents Heather Eby, Dawn Luhning, Brian Swanson and Don Mitchell received the top four votes followed by newcomers Patrick Boyle and Candis Kirkpatrick.
“I am overwhelmed by the results, but very humbled and very pleased I guess. I’m kind of speechless actually. I was hoping to move up in the polls just a little bit and I guess I did,” said Eby. “Over the last three years I have just tried to be me and I haven’t tried to be anyone but who I am and I think people just appreciate someone who’s just honest and genuine.”
Kirkpatrick said having recognition in the city with her job in tourism helped her earn votes, but it was still a close race.
“If anyone watched the race and saw how it went back and forth for literally every poll, I’m overwhelmed. I’m absolutely thrilled and still can’t quite believe it to be honest,” said Kirkpatrick. “I’m very pleased that I came out ahead and oh man, am I ever looking forward to this. It’s going to be fantastic.”
For Boyle it was a busy night and his wife had gone into contractions as well with the possibility of having their child.
“I’m completely flattered. I asked the people of the City of Moose Jaw to believe and they did,” said Boyle. “I heard a lot of people saying it’s good to have a young perspective and have some young people there so it injects youth into things and from the onset I said I wanted to inject some energy into city council and the campaign and hopefully I’ll be doing that in the near future.”
Luhning, who has been on council since 2003, said it had been a busy couple of months, but she was “thrilled the electorate wanted me back again.”
“In every decision I make on city council, what you see is what you get. I speak from the heart,” said Luhning. “Three years is gone in a heartbeat and four years will probably go fast as well, but I think it does give some extra time for the new councillors to get their head around the bylaws and procedures and policies.”
Mitchell said he was gratified to be in council again and he is looking forward to working with the “energetic new councillors.” He was mayor from 1991-94 and has served on city council for nine years with breaks in between.
“I have good feedback and good support so we’ll roll up our sleeves and get at it,” said Mitchell, adding that a four-year term will be beneficial. “That’s obviously a big commitment for all of us, in terms of a slice out of our life, but it does allow for a more developed planning period.”
Swanson has 15 years experience on city council and ran unsuccessfully for mayor in 1994. He said he is looking forward to continue to serve the people of the city. He said he was worked with Kirkpatrick on the Moose Jaw Exhibition Company board and Boyle was a student at a high school Swanson taught at.
“I think (people) support the positions I take in respect to city finances and the direction we’re going,” said Swanson. “My wife pointed out there’s four females on council and three males - that’s a first. We have a first female mayor so that’s good and I’m looking forward to it.”
Coun. Terry Coleman did not seek re-election and Fraser Tolmie was out of the councillor race because he decided to run for mayor instead.
