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There were cheers and chants of “history in the making” at Lindell Smith’s headquarters as the results came in on election night.
Smith walked away with over half of the votes cast in Halifax Peninsula North, beating six other candidates by a wide margin.
“Just take a moment and look around this room,” Smith, 26, said in his acceptance speech to a packed house at Alteregos Cafe. “There’s not one person that’s the same. This campaign, it’s something that’s never been done in this city. We showed that if we all work together—no matter our backgrounds, no matter our gender, no matter where we come from—we can do it.”
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Former HRM councillor Patrick Murphy came in second place with around 17 percent of the unofficial results (final vote tallies will be released by HRM on Tuesday). Brenden Sommerhalder was third, followed closely by Chris Poole and Irvine Carvery. Martin Farrell and Anthony Kawalski trailed behind with roughly one percent of the votes each.
As the results came in, Sommerhalder crossed Gottingen Street from his campaign office to join the party with Smith’s team and congratulate the new councillor.
“This has been the most supportive campaign among candidates, I think we will only have positive memories on this campaign,“ Sommerhalder said. “We’ve always said candidates need to support each other and it will only be true if we continue to after Election Day. So Lindell has my support and he has my assistance. I’m willing to give it.”
The North Memorial Library community worker replaces Jennifer Watts in representing Peninsula North. Watts stepped down after two terms in office while calling for more diversity on council.
Smith becomes the second African-Nova Scotian councillor ever elected to city hall. He follows in the footsteps of Graham Downey, who spent 27 years as an elected representative before losing his seat in 2000.
“This night will forever be marked in the history books,” Smith told the crowd at Alteregos. ”We showed that someone like me, an average joe from the community, can make a difference.”
with files from Alexander Quon
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This article appears in Oct 20-26, 2016.
Wonderful result for a wonderful person. We now have significant change in HRM with this and other results. Developers and house demolishers should be worried.
I sure hope you’re right. You can’t even see Citadel Hill from the water! Sad state of affairs.
Well hey if the Coast likes him that’s all the reason I need to not like him.
Jennifer Watts was right; we do need more diversity in government. More than anything, I love that Lindell is young. It’s time to challenge the status quo and shake things up. We need fresh perspectives. I hope this young man will do that and represent, not just the constituents in his riding but all of Halifax. Time to be a respectable shit-disturber is now!
Congratulations, looking forward a little diversity sitting in the chamber!
Fantastic, Congrats!
POV: We have an issue when we Blacks enter any arena with saying “historic” and “first,” though it happens to me as a writer — getting relegated to the Black seat and feeling like I emerged from a non-progressive entity. I wish one day to change “makes history” to “makes progress.” When you travel the country, the success of integration hits you like a ton of bricks. The mosaic is so apparent and beautiful. In 2016, “making history” casts a dim light over Halifax (founded 1749) as a place still existing in the Middle Ages. Because Smith succeeded in wining the vote within his own group, not among the broader electorate, I do not consider this historic, since we have always had leaders within our communities. When the broader community includes, encourages, supports, respects and elects people of color, that, my Haligonians, will be loving and forward thinking and without need to say … “historic”. Cheers to a brighter future, a broader community and congratulations to Mr. Smith.
Smith took over 50% of the vote; I have to assume (in fact, I am absolutely certain) that he had support outside of his own ethnic group.