World News – California – In a landslide victory, Charlie Clark served as mayor of Saskatoon for a second term

Josh Lynn
Digital News Editor

Charlie Clark speaks to reporters about his election victory in November.. 13, 2020. (Laura Woodward / CTV News)

Saskatoon –
After a competition that saw Charlie Clark face a tough competitor at the head of a well-stocked political machine and an unexpected entry into the race by a familiar competitor, he will return to City Hall to serve a second term as mayor..

MLA secretary and former secretary Rob Norris were two early favorites to sack Clark. Norris ran a highly organized campaign and sought to draw stark differences in how he handled the role of mayor compared to Clark.

The plot intensified when former mayor Don Acheson – who was defeated by Clark in 2016 – entered the race, hoping to add a fifth term as mayor to his résumé.. .

Three other participants, Kari Tarasov, Zubair Sheikh, and Mark Zilke, all serious campaigning, just served to make the race more competitive..

In the end, Clark, who ran on his record – which his opponents have often tried to regard as a liability – won his conviction that he was best suited to lead the city in the coming months during the COVID-19 pandemic, on Monday..

The elections were unprecedented, taking place amid a global pandemic that kills other than everyday life, then delayed after a snowstorm swept through the city at the weekend.. .

“It was intense, it was a roller coaster, sure. But it is really important that we have a full democratic process and I think watching the polls today, I was leading the people and watching the queuing at the polling stations.. Clark said it was a boost to having so many people who hadn’t had the opportunity to vote and were able to vote today.. .

Clark stopped declaring victory when he first addressed the media after 10 am. M. But after achieving more results, he spoke more confidently of his victory during a second session with reporters that started just before 10:30, and thanked the other competitors in the race.. .

While talking to reporters, Clark dismisses the notion that his victory was a result of the vote splitting between Atchison and Norris.. .

“My goal was to actually win as it doesn’t matter if there are two strong candidates from the right of center . . . I clearly have a strong mandate with regard to the leadership that is now in place.  ».

« I don’t see our city particularly divided as a result of these elections. This is not what I saw, this is not what I heard at the doorstep, by any means, and I think there will be every opportunity for us to hear from all sides of the political spectrum. « . .

« Tonight the voters have spoken clearly, » said Rob Norris at the Sheraton Cavillier Hotel in downtown when it was clear that Clark’s progress was invincible.. .

However, Norris had a different view from Clark about the impact of Atchison’s entry in the race on the election outcome.

Norris said, « I think the biggest factor that we’re seeing tonight is actually the split of votes, and that Don Atchison has had a huge impact on this campaign, and that Don Acheson has helped reinforce the status quo. ». .

When it was his turn to admit that Clark’s victory was inevitable, Acheson aimed some of his favorite goals that he and Norris had focused on throughout their campaigns.. .

“People have spoken and I think they are in favor of a $ 135 million library, bike lanes on Third Avenue, 150 to 500 million dollars for the express bus, and so residents spoke. Those things I didn’t think were definitely needed in Saskatoon, ”Acheson offered as an assistant at his campaign office on Eighth Street East while thanking the volunteers for their efforts.

This is Achison’s second loss to Clark, who defeated the long-standing incumbent when he was elected mayor in 2016.. Prior to that, Clark served as a counselor to Ward 6 for ten years, serving alongside Atchison on the council..

Clark said he decided to run again for mayor because he still has a job he wants to complete.

During the campaign, Clark said his goals over the next four years would include driving the city’s economic recovery from COVID-19, addressing the root causes of crime and allocating funds for infrastructure..

While campaigning, Clarke indicated that he believes in building a strong economic future where no one is left behind and promised to create 15,000 new jobs if reelected.. .

Charlie Clark, Mayor of Saskatoon, Don Atchison, US Presidential Elections, 2020, Rob Norris