[SarcasticMarmot]

I love how, for all the talk about a major anti-incumbent backlash, literally all but one incumbent is still in the lead. Goes to show at least one of two things: (1) the people who are complaining loudest are not remotely representative of those who show up to vote; or (2) people are mostly mad about other people's councillors, not their own. In any case, guess people aren't really that mad about infill and bike lanes!

Many of the loudest anti-urban voices don't live in Edmonton but in the surrounding communities. Just look at the convoy fanatic Beaumont elected as mayor....

 

[CplKlinger]

In any case, guess people aren't really that mad about infill and bike lanes!

Oh gosh, I didn't even think about the active transportation acceleration project. Maybe Kingsway will still get that SUP after all

 

[archited]

Mostly I am upset about candidates that have shelved or nixed important projects -- aerial tram, ped-wheelie bridge next to Hotel Macdonald, destruction of Coliseum, destruction of Wellington bridge -- bike lanes I am agnostic about. Factoring in these accountabilities for Mayoral candidates I wish there was a City-first candidate that I could cheer on -- there isn't.

 

[ntt1]

pihêsiwin and Ipiihkoohkanipiaohtsi results are sure coming in slow. 2 and 4 stations reporting only respectively, as of almost noon today.

 

[David A]

pihêsiwin and Ipiihkoohkanipiaohtsi results are sure coming in slow. 2 and 4 stations reporting only respectively, as of almost noon today.

Yes, we are still sitting at a bit over 20% of polls and under 30% of votes being counted with a lower turn out than last election. I suspect not being able to send out voter cards due to the mail strike is part of the turn out problem.

Many incumbents or leading candidates are in the low to mid 40% range, so overall wouldn't say a great deal of enthusiasm for anyone.

 

[constance_chlore]

Many incumbents or leading candidates are in the low to mid 40% range, so overall wouldn't say a great deal of enthusiasm for anyone.

That was also largely true in 2021 though (the exceptions being Cartmell, Knack, and Paquette). I don't think the margins so far are any more or less extreme than in past elections, which makes sense given that many wards have six or more candidates.

 

[trevorhayden]

So far 4 awful people are leading while 9 good people are leading. Edmonton is in good hands.

 

[constance_chlore]

So far 4 awful people are leading while 9 good people are leading. Edmonton is in good hands.

I don't like the Better Edmonton candidates but I don't think most of them are awful people. At least PACE got wiped out.

 

[trevorhayden]

With Cartmell likely out, I see him working behind the scenes through the 4 BE winners to actively undermine Council. They may defect, but who knows!

 

[Airboy]

St Albert had 30% turnout. 14% was advanced poll. The Cities web site is saying only 1 pole of 15 has been counted.

As for Edmonton with less than half reporting and Knack is comfortably ahead I suspect he will win.

 

[constance_chlore]

With Cartmell likely out, I see him working behind the scenes through the 4 BE winners to actively undermine Council. They may defect, but who knows!

I don't know that the four currently leading BE members could undermine council any more than the four right-leaning councillors could do before municipal parties were a thing. The big worry was that the greater fundraising capacity of parties would allow them to win more seats, but that hasn't really panned out.

 

[Greenspace]

Edmontonians didn't like the idea of parties in the first place, and with the teachers strike and perceptions of BE ties to the UCP, even less so in Edmonton. This was a big win for the incumbents generally, what I'm hearing they will all be re-elected. Name recognition in civic elections is everything.

 

[David A]

With Cartmell likely out, I see him working behind the scenes through the 4 BE winners to actively undermine Council. They may defect, but who knows!

Possibly but if so, does he follow the Bill Smith pattern and then run again successfully or the Mike NIckel one and run unsuccessfully?

However, all the money raised and the advantages given to parties doesn't seem to have helped him much. So I wonder if those on the right might instead look for a better candidate next time.

 

[SarcasticMarmot]

I don't think this result is as anti-party as it appears at first glance. All the vacant seats are currently taken by party aligned candidates. I think what we have learned is that the party $ advantage is not enough to overcome the incumbent advantage, but it does seem to be enough to get the all important name recognition in an open race. I suspect the pro-municipal parties crowd will see this result and expect that in a few election cycles party politics will dominate. Unfortunately.

 

[David A]

I don't this this result is as anti-party as it appears at first glance. All the vacant seats are currently taken by party aligned candidates. I think what we have learned is that the party $ advantage is not enough to overcome the incumbent advantage, but it does seem to be enough to get the all important name recognition in an open race. I suspect the pro-municipal parties crowd will see this result and expect that in a few election cycles party politics will dominate. Unfortunately.

Yes, except for the Mayoral race interestingly and importantly. It may be a half glass full, half glass empty outcome and which you look at more perhaps depends on your perspective.

However some of the right leaning incumbents not running again were also just replaced by like, so it may be too soon to conclude on the inevitability of parties or their failure.