Ottawa choses change in city elections

Here’s the Ottawa Citizen’s headline this morning:

Ottawa voters clean house, elect new mayor, 10 new councillors OTTAWA — You wanted change, you got it. A massive, sweeping change. In the biggest turnover to be seen on council since amalgamation, a new mayor and 10 new councillors are to be sworn in on Dec. 1. Voters angered by a council often perceived as dysfunctional over the past four years made good on their threats and kicked out the mayor and six incumbent councillors in decisions that collectively slash decades of experience and remove some of the most vocal parts of council’s left and right wings alike.

A good day for the power of the ballot box?  Perhaps.  Turnout appears to have been in the mid 40% range, lower than the last municipal election in 2006. But come December, Mayor-elect Jim Watson will get his chance to lead Ottawa’s 23-person city council.

Tags: politics