The polls have closed: incumbent mayor Lisa Helps has been re-elected for a second term in the 2018 civic elections.
Throughout her re-election campaign, she has been endorsed by three downtown businesses, but heavily criticized by several others.
In the 2014 municipal elections, Helps won by a narrow margin against incumbent mayor Dean Fortin.
Her campaign platform this year includes childcare, transportation, and food affordability, sustainable economic development, reduction of greenhouse gases , and more public consultation
Helps campaigned against major players Stephen Hammond, Bruce McGuigan, Michael Geoghegan and several others.
She won the 2018 municipal elections by 43.13%, garnering 12,512 votes. In comparison, Hammond received 8,619 votes, Geoghegan got 4,266 votes, and McGuigan received 2,356 votes.
The city also has 8 councillors, several of whom are incumbent and will be serving their second terms in office.
Councillor Candidates (29 candidates running for 8 positions)
- Marianne Alto (incumbent) (10,139 votes)
- Laurel Collins (12,752 votes)
- Sharmarke Dubow (10,555 votes)
- Ben Isitt (incumbent) (14,092 votes)
- Jeremy Loveday (incumbent) (13,150 votes)
- Sarah Potts (11,908 votes)
- Charlayne Thornton-Joe (incumbent) (10,561 votes)
- Geoff Young (incumbent) (12,042 votes)
In answer to the question of whether or community members were in favour of creating a $250,000 Citizens Assembly to access the costs, benefits, and disadvantages of an amalgamation between the municipalities of Victoria and Saanich: 66.49% people voted yes.
43.5% of the estimated eligible voter population turned out to vote in the 2018 civic elections in Victoria.
