The 2025 St. John’s municipal election is in the books, with a returning mayor but lots of new blood.
Danny Breen fended off a strong challenge from businesswoman Ivy Hanley to secure his third term in the mayor’s chair.
And he’ll face a number of fresh faces upon his return to City Hall.
They include first-time at-large councilors Kate Cadigan, Lynn Hammond and Nikita Ryall, along with Brenda Halley in the downtown Ward 2, and Donnie Earle who ousted incumbent Carl Ridgeley in the Ward 5 Goulds area.
Ron Ellsworth (VOCM News)
Ron Ellsworth is the new deputy mayor, winning handily after Sheilagh O’Leary left to run provincially, Tom Davis was re-elected in Ward 4, while Jill Bruce in Ward 1 and Greg Noseworthy in Ward 3 went unchallenged.
And Sandy Hickman wins his sixth straight election since 2001, entering his 25th year on council.
The city election was delayed almost a week due to the postal strike, and questions remain about thousands of ballots mailed but not counted.
Mayor Danny Breen and supporters (VOCM News)
Breen, meanwhile, reiterated that solving bigger issues like housing, addictions and safety will take the entire village.
“We are on a good path here, there’s a lot of positive things happening in the city, and if we all get together we can overcome these issues,” he said.
Mayoral candidate Ivy Hanley and supporters (VOCM News)
As for Hanley, she says stay tuned.
“The results were close, I will have to say, and I don’t think this is the end of me.”
