Ex-Jet scores seat on council

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This article was published 27/10/2010 (5076 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Thomas Steen is the new Lillian Thomas.

The 50-year-old ex-Winnipeg Jet won by a close 216 votes over Shaneen Robinson, a former CTV reporter, Wednesday night in Elmwood-East Kildonan.

Steen replaces Thomas, city councillor for the area for almost two decades. “I feel overwhelmed and honoured to be elected,” Steen said, at a victory party at his campaign headquarters.

“I’m as honoured as when they raised my jersey in the arena.”

Robinson, 30, was considered by many to be the front-runner in the race because she was backed by the NDP. Robinson’s father is Eric Robinson, Manitoba’s aboriginal and northern affairs minister.

“We fought the good fight,” Robinson said in defeat.

“Mark my words,” she added in reference to Steen being the new councillor. “I’m going to hold him accountable to the people of this community.”

The outcome of the vote would have been completely different if Rod Geisbrecht, who lost the NDP nomination to Robinson, hadn’t thrown his hat into that ring.

That split the vote on the left to Steen’s advantage. Giesbrecht finished third with 3,501 votes.

Steen was a candidate for the Conservative Party of Canada in the 2008 federal election, losing to New Democrat Jim Maloway in the northeast Winnipeg riding of Elmwood-Transcona.

The former Jet centre played a total of 950 regular-season NHL games, scoring 264 goals and adding 553 assists — all for Winnipeg.

On May 6, 1995, the Jets retired Steen’s jersey No. 25 in a ceremony at the Winnipeg Arena.

bruce.owen@freepress.mb.ca

Thomas Steen: 3,921

Shaneen Robinson: 3,705

Rod Giesbrecht: 3,501

Gordon Warren: 264

Nelson Sanderson: 236