Former Jet Steen scores close win in East Kildonan-Elmwood

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 27/10/2010 (5817 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Former Winnipeg Jet Thomas Steen scored a huge political victory in yesterday’s civic election.

Steen, a former federal Conservative Party candidate, was elected with 34% of the vote in a wide-open race in Elmwood-East Kildonan and will replace retired councillor Lillian Thomas.

Shaneen Robinson, the New Democratic Party candidate, and Rod Giesbrecht, who was denied the NDP nomination but decided to run anyway, split 62% of the vote between them.(All results were unofficial at the time of posting. They will be declared official by the city’s senior election officer at noon on Thurs., Oct. 28.)

“We ran a great campaign,” Steen told reporters in his crowded campaign headquarters. He credited his campaign’s success to staff and volunteers.

A resident of Transcona, Steen lives just outside the boundaries of the Elmwood-East Kildonan ward. Well-known for his pro hockey career with the Jets, he campaigned on a platform of enhancing community safety.

Steen vowed to work effectively with all levels of government to ensure taxpayers get the best return for their tax dollars, and to implement crime prevention programs proven in other jurisdictions. He also wants to improve community recreation and infrastructure.

Robinson, a lifelong resident of Elmwood, campaigned to reduce crime and support children and youth. Giesbrecht, who lives in East Kildonan, ran on a similar platform.

Robinson paced around her crowded campaign headquarters for much of the evening, nervously watching her narrow lead slip away. When it became obvious Steen had won, she said she would celebrate with her supporters anyway.

“I’m just glad my buddy Ross Eadie got in,” she said, referring to the winner of the Old Kildonan race.

Gordon Warren and Nelson Sanderson also ran, each garnering 2% of the vote.