Leonard Krog re-elected as Nanaimo Mayor, two new faces added to Council

“Nanaimo’s clearly taken a fairly green turn in terms of the voting patterns and we’ll see what the implications of that are for Council in the next four years. It’s going to be strategically more challenging, I think, for Council and the city generally, but we’ll see what happens.”

Candidates and supporters watch on at the Vancouver Island Conference Centre Saturday evneing. (Image Credit: Ian Holmes/NanaimoNewsNOW)

Krog added he thinks there’s “clearly a desire for change,” and suspects the new-look Council will focus a lot on ensuring Nanaimo’s environmental responsibilities are met.

“I think we’re going to see more money spent in environmental issues than would have normally been the case. Whether or not there’ll be the kind of emphasis on necessary infrastructure when it comes to rezonings, I think it has implications for industrial lands which most people seem to acknowledge we need more of, otherwise the residential tax base will continue to pay the substantial portion of the City’s expenses.”

The new look council to serve alongside Krog during this term includes incumbents Ben Geselbracht (12,399), Paul Manly (12,052), Hilary Eastmure (10,660), Sheryl Armstrong (9,368), Erin Hemmens (8,090) and Ian Thorpe (7,654).

Incumbent councillor Janice Perrino was defeated.

Geselbracht said the votes give a clear mandate to this Council to focus on social issues.

“Focusing on the fact we’re growing quickly and making sure the city remains livable for everybody, every generation. One of the big items is building non-market housing at scale so workers, families, those on disability, and seniors can live here. We also want to keep pushing on the patient tower and the cath lab.”

First-time candidates Andrea Coutu (8,160) and Marnie Boers (7,873) will join them.

Boers said working on Council has been a long-term goal for her over several years, but she wanted to wait until her children were a little older so she could fully commit to the role.

“I think I’ve been working in the community for so long, I work in emergency, and I make a lot of community connections. I always try to be kind to everybody, and I think people just remember that. I showed up as who I am…and I think that just really landed with people.”

Coutu said she knows she is going to be very busy over the next four years, with considerable competing priorities facing this new-look Council.

“We have a public health crisis and we’re facing an economic crisis as well. I think looking at how to make sustainable choices around our industrial development is really important, getting more economic development going without giving up the values that people have, obviously centred by electing the people they did.”

Ben Geselbracht will return for another term at a Nanaimo City Councillor. (Image Credit: Ian Holmes/NanaimoNewsNOW)

Significant changes were made in the District of Lantzville.

Acclaimed mayor Mark Swain will have three new faces at the Council table, with Jonathan Lerner the lone incumbent retained.

Scott Mack, John Westby and Lee Forsyth earned election Saturday evening, while incumbents Ian Savage and Rachelle Mundell were dispatched.

Three Regional District of Nanaimo electoral areas elected new representation, with the remaining for acclaimed after running unopposed.

Area C (Extension, East Wellington, Pleasant Valley) will be represented by Lauren Melanson, who defeated Nicholas Greer.

Area E (Nanoose) saw Joe Ringwald elected over Peter Njenga and Paul Stephen, while Area F (Coombs, Hilliers, Errington) saw incumbent Leanne Salter defeated by Chris Burger.

Results from School District 68 were not available as of 10:20 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 17.

Results announced Saturday are preliminary and may change slightly during verification early next week.

It’s expected the final results from the 2026 Municipal Election will be announced on or before Wednesday, Oct. 21.

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by NanaimoNewsNOW Staff

Leonard Krog re-elected as Nanaimo Mayor, two new faces added to Council

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