Mark Sutcliffe is the brand new mayor of Ottawa.
The political rookie defeated Catherine McKenney and 12 different candidates to develop into mayor of Canada’s capital, succeeding Jim Watson.
“Tonight, the folks of Ottawa made a transparent determination; you voted for constructive change,” Sutcliffe advised supporters at Lago about 90 minutes after polls closed.
“You voted for compassion and monetary duty. You voted for a safer, extra dependable, extra inexpensive metropolis. You voted for an method that works for all of Ottawa.”
CTV News Ottawa declared Sutcliffe the winner 25 minutes after polls closed at 8 p.m. Sutcliffe acquired 51.3 per cent of the vote (161,679 votes), in comparison with 37.9 per cent for McKenney (119,241).
“What a phenomenal evening in Ottawa,” Sutcliffe advised supporters in a victory speech at 9:20 p.m.
“I’m feeling a variety of feelings proper now: humility, pleasure, job, a variety of aid, however most of all I’m feeling unimaginable gratitude. I’m so grateful for the expertise that Ginny, my household and I’ve had via this marketing campaign, and I’m particularly grateful for the tens of 1000’s of people that help our imaginative and prescient for the way forward for Ottawa.”
Mark Sutcliffe places his hand over his coronary heart as supporters chant his title as he speaks on stage together with his household by his aspect after being elected Mayor of Ottawa within the 2022 municipal election, in Ottawa, on Monday, Oct. 24, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Justin Tang
Sutcliffe is considered one of 12 new faces at Ottawa metropolis corridor for the brand new four-year time period.
Public opinion polls confirmed Sutcliffe and McKenney had been in a decent race main as much as Monday’s election. Sutcliffe paid tribute to McKenney after the votes had been counted.
“I’ve all the time admired and revered Catherine, and every single day throughout this marketing campaign I gained much more respect for them. Catherine is a trailblazer, Catherine is an extremely passionate advocate for essentially the most weak, and Catherine has an unequalled ambition for what our metropolis could be,” Sutcliffe mentioned.
Re-elected Kitchissippi Coun. Jeff Leiper congratulated Sutcliffe on the election victory, and mentioned, “you could have my dedication to making sure now we have a productive time period as we flip the web page on a brand new period.”
Sutcliffe had a message for supporters of McKenney and the opposite mayoral candidates.
“To the individuals who voted for Catherine and any of the opposite candidates, I would like you to know that I’ve listened to your issues and expectations all through this marketing campaign. I imagine there may be frequent floor for us and I promise to proceed to hear. I promise I will likely be a mayor for all of Ottawa,” Sutcliffe mentioned.
This is the second time Ottawa has elected a political rookie as mayor, after Larry O’Brien received in 2006.
“Tonight we’ll have a good time. Tomorrow the onerous work begins. We are dealing with many challenges, however I’m crammed, as I all the time am, with hope and optimism for our metropolis.”
“IT’S TOUGH AND IT’S DISAPPOINTING”, MCKENNEY
McKenney spoke to supporters at their marketing campaign headquarters after the votes had been counted.
“This just isn’t the consequence we had hoped for. It’s powerful and it is disappointing, however we’re going to transfer ahead,” McKenney advised supporters.
“Tomorrow we’ll get again up and maintain working to create the town we deserve.”
Catherine McKenney, left, embraces their daughter, heart, in Ottawa, Ont., on Monday, Oct. 24, 2022. Mark Sutcliffe has been elected the following mayor of Canada’s capital metropolis as his closest rival, McKenney, concedes defeat. (Spencer Colby/THE CANADIAN PRESS)
“The work of constructing a greater Ottawa is rarely completed, and one evening and one loss just isn’t going to maintain us down for lengthy.”
McKenney congratulated Sutcliffe on his election victory.
“Mark, I do know you entered this race as a result of like me you imagine on this metropolis and its potential, you wish to make this metropolis, bettering this metropolis your full-time job and I’ve a variety of respect for that.
“I sincerely want you each success.”
Bob Chiarelli’s try at a political comeback ended with a 3rd place end within the mayoral race.
Chiarelli, the previous mayor and Ontario cupboard minister, acquired 5 per cent of the vote.
Nour Kadri was in fourth with 2.5 per cent of the vote, whereas all different candidates acquired lower than one per cent of the vote.
SUTCLIFFE’S CAMPAIGN PROMISES
Sutcliffe entered the race for mayor on June 29, vowing to deliver “new management” to Ottawa City Hall.
His marketing campaign guarantees included capping property taxes at 2 to 2.5 per cent a 12 months for the primary two years of his mandate, discovering no less than $35 million in financial savings at Ottawa City Hall, freezing transit fares for all riders, spend $100 million over 4 years on roads and biking infrastructure and constructing 100,000 properties over 10 years..
Other guarantees included no less than three new canine parks within the suburbs and decreasing recreation charges for youngsters and youth by 10 per cent.
Sutcliffe’s marketing campaign launched the 100-day plan for the primary objects he would deal with as mayor, together with a line-by-line overview of current metropolis spending, putting a process drive to supply concrete suggestions for options for responding to psychological sickness and substance use dysfunction, and launch a process drive to streamline and quicken the home-building approval course of.
WHO IS MARK SUTCLIFFE
Sutcliffe has lived in Ottawa all his life. He is married to his spouse Ginny, and has three youngsters.
The 54-year-old is a broadcaster and entrepreneur, working as a chat present host on Newstalk 580 CFRA and 1310 over time and writing a column within the Ottawa Citizen.