Ouellette attracted unlikely voters to make inroads into downtown neighbourhoods

Robert-Falcon Ouellette, the surprise third-place finisher in this week’s mayor’s race, scored well in downtown neighbourhoods and captured votes in areas that usually register a low turnout.

Returns from polling stations show Ouellette, a 37-year-old Cree and University of Manitoba administrator, won 15.7 per cent of the vote behind winner Brian Bowman and runner-up Judy Wasylycia-Leis, the heavy favourite throughout much of the race. He had started the campaign as a virtually unknown outsider, and analysts said the outcome could prompt politicians to pay greater attention to aboriginal and other inner-city voters.

While Bowman won by a wide margin and took most of the city, especially the suburbs, Ouellette came first in several city centre districts — possibly eating into what might have been Wasylycia-Leis’s support.

“I’m amazed by it,” Ouellette said by phone, after seeing a Free Press map of election results by polling subdivision — small areas of 700 to 800 voters.

Ouellette’s star still on the rise

The day after Winnipeg's mayoral race, Robert-Falcon Ouellette wasn't answering the cordless phone at his South St. Vital home.

This wasn't because the University of Manitoba administrator was avoiding calls from well-wishers following his moral-victory, third-place finish. Rather, one of his five children had plunked the phone in a vase full of water and flowers sent by Manitoba Opposition Leader Brian Pallister.

The morning after Ouellette garnered nearly 37,000 votes and 16 per cent of the popular vote, political parties began courting the PhD-educated, photogenic and well-spoken Cree educator, who went from being an unknown fringe candidate to a mayoral contender during the six-month campaign.

Ouellette attracted the vast majority of his votes not through an extensive volunteer apparatus, but on the basis of his charisma, as well as what he represents. He is a highly educated, comfortably middle-class, suburban indigenous professional.

Result shocks Bowman

Brian Bowman's landslide victory in Winnipeg's mayoral race took everyone by surprise, including Bowman.

Retired political science professor Chris Leo said the mayor-designate offered Winnipeggers what they really wanted, and Winnipeggers responded.

Bowman "had an extensive program with quite a lot of things in it," said Leo, a senior scholar at the University of Winnipeg. "People were looking for aspirations. People took a look at what (Bowman) was promising and him personally and decided he was the best."

Residents gave Bowman, the first-time politician, a resounding 47.5 per cent of the vote, almost more than all the other candidates combined. Judy Wasylycia-Leis, the favourite for most of the campaign, scored 24.9 per cent while Robert-Falcon Ouellette, the race's surprise, was credited with 15.7 per cent in third place.

Fired principal elected to board

Thompson's Mystery Lake school board will be an interesting place during the next four years as former high school principal Ryan Land has won a seat on the same board that fired him.

Equally interesting could be the Swan Valley School Division's board, where a parent uprising turfed out five incumbent trustees amid charges the division consistently hires and promotes out-of-province teachers over local teachers.

Despite more than 61 per cent of rural school board seats being acclaimed or having no candidates running, there were significant races around Manitoba, races in which 18 incumbents lost their seats.

The old guard is gone in Thompson, where the Mystery Lake trustees had publicly rebuked and publicly fired Land as principal of R.D. Parker Collegiate in 2011. The province investigated after Mystery Lake went through three superintendents, eight assistant superintendents, three high school principals and nine high school vice-principals in four years.

Selinger says he and Bowman share several priorities

A change in leadership at city hall may signal a new, improved relationship between the province and Winnipeg.

Premier Greg Selinger said Thursday that he and mayor-elect Brian Bowman share several priorities, including a focus on infrastructure, safe neighbourhoods and rapid transit.

“Mayor Bowman got a mandate and that mandate focuses on things that we believe in and that gives us a lot of common ground,” Selinger told reporters after announcing a $2 million expansion to the welding shop at Sturgeon Heights Collegiate.

The premier faced questions on whether the civic election had been a rebuke of the provincial NDP. Judy Wasylycia-Leis, who appeared to lead the mayoral race until near the end, has strong NDP ties as a former provincial cabinet minister and member of parliament. She received help in her campaign from several people with close links to the provincial government.

Shelley Hart new mayor of East St. Paul

Shelley Hart, a former deputy chief with the Winnipeg Police Service, is the new mayor of East St. Paul.

Hart won a fierce battle, edging councilor Barry Schreyer with 1,489 to 1,322 votes. Incumbent Lawrence Morris, finished third with 982 votes.

Also in the capital region, three of the new six-person council in the RM of Springfield are female, after last nights election: Heather Erickson, Shandy Walls, and Tiffany Fell, all newcomers.

One-term Springfield Reeve Jim McCarthy went down to defeat to Bob Bodnaruk, 2,927 to 1,469.

Bowman drops by News Café

Fresh off his stunning landslide victory on Wednesday night, new Winnipeg mayor-elect Brian Bowman will visit the Free Press News Café at 11 a.m. today for a live and interactive chat with Free Press political columnist Dan Lett.

Come down to the cafe, or tune in live here at winnipegfreepress.com to hear Bowman talk about the campaign that was, and his plans for the future.

The vote results

Brian Bowman

47.5 per cent

111,504 votes

Second time’s a charm for Gilroy

CINDY Gilroy prevailed this time, after coming so close in 2010, to win the crowded Daniel McIntyre council race by 591 votes over runner-up Keith Bellamy.

Incumbent and longtime councillor Harvey Smith came in third at 3,284.

"People were really ready for a change," said Gilroy, 41. "We really knocked on the doors this time. That was the big difference over 2010."

She said infrastructure needs, affordable housing and social concerns including issues pertaining to the sex trade were some of the ward's key issues.