Bigger and more interesting: Former councillor in the running for Lethbridge's mayor
Bridget Mearns, a two-term city councillor who stepped away from politics four years ago, has become the first woman to join the Lethbridge mayoral race in the October municipal election.
“I always knew I’d be back to public life,” said Mearns, as she launched her campaign at the Galt Museum in front of a group of about 20 people, including family, friends and supporters.
Mearns was first elected as a city councillor in 2010 and ran for mayor in 2013. She finished second to Chris Spearman in that election, but was re-elected to council six months later.
Mearns re-claimed her seat on council during a by-election that was held to fill a vacancy left by the death of city councillor Wade Galloway, who was killed in an avalanche while snowboarding at Waterton.
Mearns did not seek re-election in 2017, but took time to complete a Masters of business administration and was executive officer for the Building Industry and Land Development Association (BILD Lethbridge).
She watched the past council and listened to people who reached out to her, expressing frustration over the division among city council and the community.
“They wanted change and wanted to get things done,” said Mearns. “I saw there was something I had to offer and now is the time to make that offer to the citizens of Lethbridge.”
Mearns is the sixth candidate to step forward, and the only woman in the mayoral race at this point.
The other candidates are Sheldon Day Chief, Blaine Hyggen, Gary Klassen, Kolton Menzak and Stephen Mogden.
Community activist and philanthropist Knud Peterson introduced Mearns at her campaign kickoff, voicing his support and conviction that she is the right person, and the right woman, to be the next mayor.
“Lethbridge’s first mayor was Charles Magrath, elected in 1891,” said Peterson. “Since then we have had 25 different men occupy the mayor’s chair.”
Peterson added, “I firmly believe she is the best person to lead our city forward. Now is a very appropriate time to elect our first woman mayor.”
When Mearns was asked about that later she agreed it was a trend she hoped to break this October.
“It’s been 130 years, so it seems now’s a good time.”
Mearns said she had been thinking about running for mayor for a couple of months, and made the final decision after speaking to her family and people in the community.
“I have incredible support behind me, and that was the final push for me to do this.”
Mearns said her past experience on council, her work in the private sector and background in the non-profit sector all make her a good choice.
“I won’t have all the answers but I understand that we do collectively, and I think it’s important we foster that, and have a leader who knows how to do that.”
Mearns said the city can’t solve all of the challenges it faces alone and needs a mayor that has the respect of council, as well as a non-partisan relationship with other orders of government.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Breast cancer screening should start at age 40, Canadian Cancer Society says
The Canadian Cancer Society says all provinces and territories should lower the starting age for breast cancer screening to 40.
DEVELOPING Live updates as Stormy Daniels testifies at Trump hush money trial
Adult film star Stormy Daniels is on the stand a second time Thursday as former U.S. president Donald Trump’s hush money case continues in Manhattan. Follow live updates here.
Ontario family receives massive hospital bill as part of LTC law, refuses to pay
A southwestern Ontario woman has received an $8,400 bill from a hospital in Windsor, Ont., after she refused to put her mother in a nursing home she hated -- and she says she has no intention of paying it.
Canadian-Israeli man shot dead in Egypt; claim links killing to Gaza
A Canadian man 'of Jewish Israeli descent' has been shot dead in the Egyptian city of Alexandria in a suspected criminal case, a security source said, while a previously unknown militant group said it carried out the attack in reaction to the war in Gaza.
Here are the ultraprocessed foods you most need to avoid, according to a 30-year study
Studies have shown that ultraprocessed foods can have a detrimental impact on health. But 30 years of research show they don’t all have the same impact.
Ontario man frustrated after $3,500 paving job leaves driveway in shambles
An Ontario man considering having his driveway paved received a quote from a company for $7,000, but then, another paver in the neighbourhood knocked on his door and offered half that rate.
Why these immigrants to Canada say they're thinking about leaving, or have already moved on
For some immigrants, their dreams of permanently settling in Canada have taken an unexpected twist.
BREAKING Sheldon Keefe out as head coach of Toronto Maple Leafs
The Toronto Maple Leafs have fired head coach Sheldon Keefe. The team made the announcement Thursday after the Original Six franchise lost to the Boston Bruins in seven games in the first round of the Stanley Cup playoffs.
Boeing 737 catches fire and skids off the runway at a Senegal airport, injuring 10 people
A Boeing 737-300 plane carrying 85 people skidded off a runway at the airport in Dakar, Senegal's capital, injuring 10 people, according to the transport minister, an airline safety group and footage from a passenger that showed the aircraft on fire.