Voter turnout for the St. John’s municipal election was lower than what Mayor Danny Breen would have liked, but it still got him another four years in the city’s top job.
Breen was re-elected on Wednesday night, earning more than 56 per cent of the vote against St. John’s business owner Ivy Hanley.
Breen was first elected to council in 2009. In 2017, he was elected as mayor where he’s served since.
In this election, just over 27,260 people voted, compared to 32,567 voters in 2021.
“It wasn’t unexpected that there would be a low turnout, but it’s still disappointing to see,” Breen told CBC News shortly after learning of his victory.
He believes life — and the provincial election overlapping with the municipal — played a part in the poor turnout.
“I think generally people are also consumed with having other things in their lives that are challenging to them right now. Inflation, the economy, there’s a whole lot of issues that people are dealing with,” Breen said. “I think the focus right now wasn’t on this election.”
Disinterest in the election aside, Breen said the top issues facing St. John’s are public safety, housing and a drug crisis. He said those three problems can’t be solved by council alone, but they will start collaborating with the provincial government again to address residents’ concerns.
“I think we need to get back to that collaboration and the new council needs to take a good look at that and to be able to to get the answers to those issues that are top of mind for people in the city right now,” he said.
Five new councillors will join Breen in the council chambers.
Once all members are sworn in, Breen said, he will instill respect.
“It’s really important that we set the tone and the tone of respect, the tone of listening to different ideas, understanding different perspectives and trying to bring consensus to decisions as opposed to voting being the determining factor,” he said.
In a previous interview with CBC News, Breen said a new council needs veteran leadership. He is prepared to offer that.
“I think we’ve been successful with it and that and we’ll continue that,” he said.
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