Race harder than winner Swandel anticipated

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This article was published 28/10/2010 (4530 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

IT was a tough race in St. Norbert, but incumbent Justin Swandel secured another four years representing the ward on Winnipeg city council.

Swandel beat out challenger Louise May by more than 1,800 votes Wednesday night, but he said it was a tougher race than he had expected.

Swandel, who had 56 per cent of the vote, acknowledged May put up quite a fight.

“To give my opponent credit, there was a lot more going on in this election than I anticipated,” he said, looking somewhat exhausted but jubilant at his election headquarters.

Swandel was first elected in a 2005 byelection and won an easy victory in 2006, garnering nearly 72 per cent of the votes. He said this year’s race was his first real battle to return to city hall.

He’s eager to tackle a variety of issues affecting his ward, including rapid transit, potholes and other infrastructure projects. “The list is endless.”

He said the location of the new stadium being built in his ward was a key issue in this year’s election.

Swandel said the reputation he’s built with St. Norbert residents over the past five years served him well in this election.

Swandel was deputy mayor and served on the mayor’s executive policy committee.

St. Norbert

Justin Swandel: 8,745

Louise May: 6,892 votes