New mayor, record number of women elected to St. John’s, N.L., city council

ST. JOHN’S, N.L. — The capital city of Newfoundland and Labrador has elected a new mayor and a record number of women to its city council.

City councillor Danny Breen won a landslide victory in the St. John’s mayoral race against former mayor Andy Wells and Renee Sharpe, after the incumbent Dennis O’Keefe announced earlier this year he wouldn’t be running.

The 73-year-old Wells — known for legendary outbursts — had run on a tax-cutting Take Back Your City campaign, but O’Keefe had endorsed Breen to take his job in Tuesday’s Newfoundland and Labrador municipal elections.

Meanwhile, women won five of the 10 city councillor positions on the ballot, creating the most gender-balanced council in the city’s history.

Sheilagh O’Leary won the deputy mayor chair, while Debbie Hanlon, Hope Jamieson and Deanne Stapleton were voted in for various positions on council.

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In addition, political newcomer Maggie Burton won the councillor-at-large position, and says her victory marks the beginning of a more progressive council.

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(VOCM/St. John’s Telegram)

The Canadian Press