Municipal Election Blog

Election Night

Election Night

Why the waits?

Posted by Roger LeBlanc

Not unexpectedly there's lots of talk around town about recounts. With councillors and trustees losing their gigs by just a few votes, that sounds reasonable.

We can only hope, though, that this doesn't drag on for too long – It's not like we have "dangling chads" to contend with.

More importantly, I'd like to hear why some people had to wait in line for far too long, sometimes going right out the door. Is this a matter of not being prepared for a healthy turn-out or just a case of the after-work flood to the polls?

We got a few calls here in the newsroom from folks who were worried they wouldn't be able to cast their ballot because of the long lines. News that at least one activist had cast multiple ballots as a way to show how the system isn't foolproof must rub those folks the wrong way.

Shock and awe

Posted by Stephanie MacLellan

Wow. I think we're all in shock.

When the election numbers first started coming in, showing several incumbents trailing in the polls, the consensus among me and the few Merc reporters at the River Run was that things would change as more polls started reporting.

But the numbers held. I think our general consensus was that not enough people in Guelph were outraged or engaged enough to drastically change the make-up of council. How wrong we were.

It was impossible not to smile when Bruce Shapka rushed in the room, just in time to see his "Yes" referendum question in a commanding lead, and stare at the screen in shock and joy.

Then there was first-time candidate Vicki Beard's euphoric reaction when she captured the most votes in Ward 2, almost collapsing as the final results were posted. There seemed to be a lot of camaraderie among the candidates who gathered at the River Run Centre.

It would have been nice to see more of the defeated candidates make an appearance, but you can't really blame them for staying away on a night like this.

It will be an interesting four years ahead. Good luck, new council.

Farbridge wins

Karen Farbridge is Guelph's mayor-elect.
Photo by Darren Calabrese.

End of an era?

Posted by Stephanie MacLellan

Mayoral race underdog and perennial candidate Bev Izzillo-Ustation said tonight this campaign will be her last "hurrah."

With 38 of 67 polls reporting, and bringing up the rear with less than 300 votes, Bev said she wasn't sure about her future. When pushed, she said she won't run again.

Bev added she will "always look after the handicap people. Always. Always."

Ah, but just five minutes later, Bev told another Merc reporter there could still be a future political run. We'll have to wait and see what happens in 2010.

Watching the results

Posted by Roger LeBlanc

Here in the newsroom a good-sized crowd just formed around the TV to watch the numbers come in. Surprisingly, it's almost 9:30 p.m. and we don't know for sure who's walking away with the win.

The results are in

Posted by Stephanie MacLellan (via text message)

It's after 8:30 p.m. at the River Run Centre and still no election results.

Tension is building. No wait, the first results are up showing lefties ahead across the board.

Big cheers over here, but it's still early.

Sign of the times

Posted by Scott Tracey

Did anyone else find the signage around the voting stations a bit odd?

Driving around during the day, before I went to cast my ballot, I noticed a number of signs reading "Voting Place" outside polling stations.

When we finally went to cast our ballots, my wife and I both simultaneously commented on the sign pointing into the gymnasium which read "Voting Vote."

Did they spend so much time arguing about the wording of the referendum question nobody bothered to read the direction signs from start to finish?

What gives?