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The race for the council seat in Ward Ipiihkoohkanipiaohtsi was down to the wire between Jennifer Rice and Rhiannon Hoyle on Monday night.
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As of midnight, Rice’s lead was a mere 47 votes with three polls yet to be reported. Edmonton Elections said more results would come Tuesday.
With no incumbent, the ward was a battle between six candidates with Rice and Hoyle neck-and-neck throughout the night.
Regardless of the winner, history will be made. The woman elected will join Keren Tang, who was elected in Ward Karhiio, as the first two women of colour to have a seat in Edmonton’s city council — Hoyle would be the first black woman to hold a seat in city hall.
Rice, a former public servant and university professor specializing in mathematics and education, ran on a platform with five focus areas including core municipal responsibilities, fiscal efficiency, community safety, infrastructure improvements and caring for green spaces.
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She is also committed to balancing the equation between tax dollars paid and the services her constituents receive.
Hoyle’s election platform was community driven and she ran with four key campaign pillars — empowering effective, collaborative leadership, driving economic development, enhancing livability and building a sense of belonging.
Hoyle has served the community for almost 10 years through the Heritage Point Community League and she has has a political science degree from the University of Alberta. She also has business experience from her time co-owning and operating AirChekLab Inc. and said people can feel confident that she would protect and take care of the city’s finances.
