Abbotsford re-elects Henry Braun as mayor

ABBOTSFORD (NEWS 1130) – All the votes in Abbotsford have been counted, and with all 37 polling stations reporting in, Incumbent Henry Braun is breaking that city’s streak of one-term mayors.

He’s easily been able to win his spot in a landslide against Eric Nyvall and Moe Gill, the only other candidates who have pulled any significant numbers.

Henry Braun has gotten 56.9% per cent of the vote, and 18732 ballots in his favour.

Moe Gill and Eric Nyvall both ended up at 18 per cent, with just about 6000 votes each.

Braun says he’s a little surprised at the overwhelming support but adds it shows people want stability in City Hall.

“I was hoping I’d have more than 51 per cent, so I’m elated. I’m thankful and grateful to the citizens of Abbotsford for entrusting me with our city again for another four years. The last three or four mayors have been one term. It’s hard to set a direction for a city when you keep changing your mayor each election.’

Read more about the top issues for people in Abbotsford

He says moving forward, the city will have to address a number of issues like housing, densification, transportation and crime, all issues top of mind for those living in Abbotsford.

‘We adopted a new official community plan. We updated it, we planned for a city of 200-thousand people. Now is the implementation phase. I’m thankful to head that up. That’s the exciting part. The planning, the work, it’s necessary. Implementation is what I’m looking forward to.”

Elected Councillors:

• Patricia Ross
• Bruce Banman
• Les Barkman
• Dave Loewen
• Brenda Falk
• Ross Siemens
• Kelly Chahal
• Sandy Blue

 

With the housing crisis pushing more people out of cities like Vancouver, Richmond and Burnaby, more people found themselves calling Abbotsford ‘home’.

And the population growth isn’t expected to slow down anytime soon.

Elected School Board:

• Korky Neufeld
• Stan Petersen
• Shirley Wilson
• Preet S. Rai
• Rhonda Pauls
• Phil Anderson
• Freddy Latham

 

In the next 20 years, Abbotsford’s population is set to jump from 140-thousand to 200-thousand, and Braun says the city needs to act now to provide affordable and sustainable places for people to live.

Taking a look at city hall, some familiar names there, Bruce Banman, Brenda FALK and Kelly Chahal. Final results show 4 of the 9 city council spots have been won by candidates of AbbotsfordFIRST.

More than 33-thousand people cast their votes, with 35.86% voter turnout.

With files from Denise Wong and Estefania Duran