For the second time, Waye Mason has defeated Sue Uteck.
The incumbent councillor won another term in office, claiming the District 7 race Saturday night over Uteck and political rookie Dominick Desjardins.
“It’s a real vindication of the changes we brought to council and to the government in HRM in the last four years to get almost two-thirds of the district voting,” councillor Waye Mason said of his decisive re-election win.
The returning incumbent beat his opponents with over 60 percent of the (unofficial) vote. This is a big change from back in 2012, when Mason beat Uteck (former area councillor of 12 years) by a mere two percent vote margin.
“I was out there for five months, I gave it my all and I respect the decision,” said Uteck over the phone. “I’ve got a full-time job that I’ll return to and we’ll just go from there. I’ll still be involved in the city whether it’s on a board or a committee.”
Mason’s term in office earned him wide popularity, and a respect for his energetic approach to politics, but also his critics. Both Uteck and Desjardins campaigned claiming he didn’t push the Centre Plan fast enough, and put small businesses and heritage properties at risk. Mason says downtown construction is the most obvious concern of the district, one which HRM will have to attend to further during the next four years. The councillor says he’s ready for the challenge, and takes this election as an official thumbs-up from area residents.
“There will be no break,” said Mason. “The most important thing is land use by-law change on the peninsula…That’s what we heard over and over again at the doors, is concern about development.”
Unofficial voter turnout in District 7 was just 30.6 percent, with 4,811 total votes cast. Finalized results will be released by HRM on Tuesday.
With files from Adina Bresge.
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This article appears in Oct 13-19, 2016.
How does HRM benefit with diversity equalling two women out of a total of 19 people? With one person from the African Nova Scotian community? HRM elected an overwhelmingly white male HRM Council plus a Mayor. They do not represent the community and don’t forget, 70% of residents didn’t vote.
I think you’re a bit off-topic there Halifax Resident (Sue Uteck).
Questions for Halifax Resident:
Only 22% of candidates were women. How can we vote for women if they won’t run?
70% didn’t vote. How many of these were women and minorities? Should they shoulder the blame for the white male results?
The mayor’s race: One man. One woman. Do you not respect women who voted for a man this time?
Go peddle your imaginary oppression somewhere else…
In the old days we would call Halifax resident a stupid bitch, but these days we have to settle for the gender neutral ‘asshole’.
Great, now the city will be one giant bike lane with granola munchers and latte sippers on every corner swiping their ipads as they cross the road, not paying attention.
Every single person who voted for this moron needs to have his/her ass kicked.
A turnout of under 30 % isn’t a vindication for any white male councillor. A more apt description is a repudiation by the 70%.
“…repudiation by the 70%”
How presumptive of you to speak for the “70%”.
You have no idea why they didn’t vote…