Whalen pulls out of Lethbridge mayoral race, backing Hyggen
One of six candidates running for mayor of Lethbridge has pulled out of the race and will seek a city council position instead.
Lethbridge restaurant owner Brad Whalen said he is also throwing his support behind mayoral candidate Blaine Hyggen, since there are strong similarities in their platforms.
“I decided rather than run against Blaine, I would endorse him,” said Whalen.
“The progress that he wants to see is the same progress that I want to see.”
Whalen was the first candidate to officially file his nomination papers for mayor back in March. The four others vying for the top job are Sheldon Day Chief, Gary Klassen, Kolton Menzak and Stephen Mogdan.
Whalen said he made a decision to withdraw from the mayoral race after having a few discussions with Hyggen and realizing their campaigns were closely aligned.
“I really liked the direction he’s going, and he’s got a great deal of support, and now he has my support as well," he said.
Whalen added he would rather run for a council position and work on the same team, than run against Hyggen and have only one of them be successful.
“It was never about me being mayor and being in that position,” said Whalen. “It was about being part of a team and building a team that can make the city move in the right direction.”
Whalen said his goals are still to support small businesses and build a progressive city that is ready to expand.
Whalen was planning to retract his mayoral bid and officially file nomination papers for councillor on Tuesday.
That will leave five candidates for mayor, and increase the number of nominees seeking a councillor position to 12. The municipal election in Lethbridge is set for Oct. 18.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
B.C. tenants evicted for landlord's use after refusing large rent increase to take over neighbouring suite
Ashley Dickey and her mother rented part of the same Coquitlam duplex in three different decades under three different landlords.
Mountain guide dies after falling into a crevasse in Banff National Park
A man who fell into a crevasse while leading a backcountry ski group deep in the Canadian Rockies has died.
Expert warns of food consumption habits amid rising prices
A new survey by Dalhousie University's Agri-Food Analytics Lab asked Canadians about their food consumption habits amid rising prices.
MPP Sarah Jama asked to leave Ontario legislature for wearing keffiyeh
MPP Sarah Jama was asked to leave the Legislative Assembly of Ontario by House Speaker Ted Arnott on Thursday for wearing a keffiyeh, a garment which has been banned at Queen’s Park.
Charlie Woods, son of Tiger, shoots 81 in U.S. Open qualifier
Charlie Woods failed to advance in a U.S. Open local qualifying event Thursday, shooting a 9-over 81 at Legacy Golf & Tennis Club.
Ex-tabloid publisher testifies he scooped up possibly damaging tales to shield his old friend Trump
As Donald Trump was running for president in 2016, his old friend at the National Enquirer was scooping up potentially damaging stories about the candidate and paying out tens of thousands of dollars to keep them from the public eye.
Here's why provinces aren't following Saskatchewan's lead on the carbon tax home heating fight
After Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said the federal government would still send Canada Carbon Rebate cheques to Saskatchewan residents, despite Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe's decision to stop collecting the carbon tax on natural gas or home heating, questions were raised about whether other provinces would follow suit. CTV News reached out across the country and here's what we found out.
Montreal actress calls Weinstein ruling 'discouraging' but not surprising
A Montreal actress, who has previously detailed incidents she had with disgraced Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein, says a New York Court of Appeals decision overturning his 2020 rape conviction is 'discouraging' but not surprising.
Caleb Williams, Jayden Daniels and Drake Maye make it four NFL drafts with quarterbacks going 1-3
Caleb Williams is heading to the Windy City, aiming to become the franchise quarterback Chicago has sought for decades.