Leonard Krog secured re-election as mayor of Nanaimo in the Saturday municipal election, capturing 10,368 votes and finishing ahead of Sarah Lovegrove, who earned 8,461 votes. Krog received 40.7 per cent of the vote, while Anne Marie Dryden finished with 6,084 votes and Brunie Brunie tallied 327 votes. The preliminary count released after the Saturday evening polls closed also showed shifts across the city council and nearby regional districts, with final results expected on or before Wednesday, Oct. 21.
Mayor Krog notes green turn in Nanaimo voting patterns
Mayor Krog noted that voting patterns show Nanaimo has taken a distinctly green turn compared to previous terms. He stated that the new-look council will face strategic challenges as environmental responsibilities take center stage. Krog expects higher spending on environmental issues than normal, which he indicated could create pressures regarding industrial land rezonings and city infrastructure expenses.
Did You Know? Leonard Krog was first elected mayor in October 2018 and subsequently won re-election in 2022 with 12,390 votes, representing 66.38 per cent of that ballot.
Returning incumbent Ben Geselbracht, who led the field with 12,399 votes, argued that the election results give the council a mandate to address rapid population growth and social issues. Geselbracht emphasized the need to build non-market housing at scale for workers, families, seniors, and residents on disability, alongside continued pushes for a patient tower and a cath lab.
Voters return six incumbent councillors to office
Voters returned six incumbent councillors to office alongside Krog. Joining Geselbracht are Paul Manly with 12,052 votes, Hilary Eastmure with 10,660 votes, Sheryl Armstrong with 9,368 votes, Erin Hemmens with 8,090 votes, and Ian Thorpe with 7,654 votes. Incumbent councillor Janice Perrino was defeated in the balloting.
Expert Insight: The return of six experienced councillors paired with new perspectives from first-time members creates a dynamic environment for managing competing public health and economic priorities without abandoning voter values.
First-time candidates Andrea Coutu, who secured 8,160 votes, and Marnie Boers, who collected 7,873 votes, round out the new council table. Boers pointed to her community connections in emergency work as a foundation for her campaign, while Coutu highlighted the competing priorities of public health and economic crises facing the incoming leadership.
Electoral Shifts in Lantzville and Regional Districts
Significant changes occurred in the District of Lantzville, where acclaimed mayor Mark Swain will work with three new faces at the council table. Jonathan Lerner stands as the sole incumbent retained, while Scott Mack, John Westby, and Lee Forsyth won election seats over incumbents Ian Savage and Rachelle Mundell.
Across the Regional District of Nanaimo, Area C elected incumbent Lauren Melanson over Nicholas Greer, Area E chose Joe Ringwald over Peter Njenga and Paul Stephen, and Chris Burger defeated incumbent Leanne Salter in Area F. Meanwhile, results for School District 68 were not available as of 10:20 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 17.
Final election results expected on or before Wednesday
When will final election results be released?
Preliminary results announced on Saturday may change slightly during verification, with final tallies expected on or before Wednesday, Oct. 21.
How many candidates ran for Nanaimo city council?
A total of 40 candidates competed for the eight available councillor positions on Nanaimo city council.
What were the voter turnout figures for Nanaimo?
Preliminary figures indicate that 25,450 total ballots were cast out of an estimated 86,212 eligible voters in the municipality.
What impacts do you anticipate from the shifting political priorities on the new Nanaimo council?
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