Judy Wasylycia-Leis delivers her concession speech Wednesday, October 27, 2010 after being defeated in the 2010 civic election by incumbent Mayor Sam Katz. (SAMANTA KATZ / CHRISD.CA)

Judy Wasylycia-Leis accepted defeat Wednesday night at Canad Inns Polo Park, losing out to incumbent Mayor Sam Katz, who was re-elected for a third term.

Wasylycia-Leis took a gamble last April, quitting her job in Ottawa to take a run at the city’s top seat. Days after returning to Winnipeg, she announced her candidacy on May 3 at a rally at The Forks.

It’s been a battle for Wasylycia-Leis over the months, often exchanging jabs with Katz over policy and other issues.

After kicking her campaign off in the spring, both front-running candidates were rather quiet, with no campaign announcements or news conferences for weeks until later in the summer. Her first commitment had to do with the touchy topic of rapid transit, which she vowed to finish, slamming her main opponent for wasting time and money on the project. She also touted Winnipeg’s New Flyer Industries over a Quebec company to handle the contract for manufacturing the streetcars locally.

One of the bigger issues during Wasylycia-Leis’ campaign was the Veolia water contract debacle, which came up numerous times as she criticized Katz for holding the details of the 30-year deal private. It became a regular line during her news conferences to get rid of secrecy and backroom deal-making at City Hall if elected.

Wasylycia-Leis also made the move of announcing to increase property taxes by 2% for every year she would have been in office, but she also won a lot of support form residents fed up with Winnipeg’s crumbling roads and infrastructure. The increase would have seen the average taxpayer pay about $27 more a year, bringing in $8 million annually for the city.

Wasylycia-Leis’ support base appeared to be strong, receiving the backing of the NDP and residents living in Winnipeg’s North End, the area affected by last Saturday’s violent shootings. Her stance on crime wasn’t as strong as Katz’s, though, vowing to give ex-gang members jobs with the City of Winnipeg. Often heard saying to get at the “root causes” of crime, she also came out pledging to increase police resources, and staff at community centres to get inner-city youth off the streets.

While addressing the crowd Wednesday night, Wasylycia-Leis thanked supporters for being part of a “grassroots movement” and putting in endless volunteer hours. She acknowledged having called Katz to congratulate him on his victory.

Sam Katz, with girlfriend Leah Pasuta and his two daughters, Kiera, 5, and Ava, 9, by his side, addresses the crowd of supporters at the Radisson Hotel on Wednesday, October 27, 2010 after winning a third term as Winnipeg's mayor. (TED GRANT / CHRISD.CA)

Mayor Sam Katz kept his title Wednesday night, clinching 55% (116,308) of the vote in the 2010 civic election while celebrating at the Radisson Hotel downtown.

The incumbent Winnipeg mayor battled former NDP MP Judy Wasylycia-Leis, who quit her job in Ottawa to take a run at the city’s top job in May. Wasylycia-Leis was trailing for most of the night as poll results began to come in shortly after 8 p.m. and ended up receiving 90,913 votes with 43%.

Other mayoral candidates Brad Gross and Rav Gill received 3,398 (2%) and 1,175 (1%) votes, respectively.

Weeks of campaigning and endorsements from some big names, including a backing by the Winnipeg Police Association, appeared to have paid off for Katz’s promise to hire 58 additional police officers to help curb the city’s relentless crime problem. Katz also garnered the support from the United Fire Fighters of Winnipeg, among others.

Katz campaigned with public safety in mind, also committing to boost resources to Winnipeg’s 911 call centre. Critics accused Katz of using his role as mayor to acquire information that there was a shortage in the first place. Just one week later, city council passed a vote to hire 19 more operators to handle 911 calls at a cost of $1.2 million next year.

In his last campaign announcement on October 20, Katz promised to fund the city’s street festivals, such as Ciclovia and Lights on Broadway. He also committed to more than double the street closure budget from $47,000 to $100,000 to allow more organizations to host community events.

Accompanied by girlfriend Leah Pasuta Wednesday morning, Katz cast his ballot at Shaftesbury High School shortly before 10 a.m. He was confident going in, but had a plan in his back pocket just in case he didn’t win a third term. Speaking to reporters outside the voting hall, Katz said he would be spending more time with both of his daughters and also at the Winnipeg Goldeyes’ offices, where he is currently owner of the American Association baseball team.

Katz’s third term as mayor begins Tuesday, November 2.

A total of 47% of the population came out in the blistering weather Wednesday to make their voice heard. To see which school trustrees won, visit the city’s election website.

Incumbent Mayor Sam Katz voted Wednesday morning at Shaftesbury High School, accompanied by girlfriend Leah Pasuta.

Watch:

Katz is confident he will remain onto the city’s top job, but said if things don’t go his way, the Winnipeg Goldeyes office will be seeing a lot more of him.

ChrisD.ca video

After months of campaigning, dozens of news conferences, endless promises and an accidental soccer kick to the face, it all comes to an end today.

Voters head to the polls beginning at 8 a.m. to elect a school trustee and city councillor in their ward, as well as vote for one of four mayoral candidates — incumbent Mayor Sam Katz, Judy Wasylycia-Leis, Rav Gill or Brad Gross.

Early voter turnout at advance polls set a new record this year with 29,216 people voting by last Friday. During the 2006 civic election, 15,447 people had voted at advance polling stations. The jump is attributed to a boost in voter interest this year, and more polling stations to handle the demand, such as at shopping centres and universities.

Polls close tonight at 8 p.m. Still don’t know who the candidates are in your area or where to vote? Find out here. If you didn’t receive a Voters Notice card in the mail, call 311.

Final advance poll results will be available on the city’s website by 8:20 p.m., with election day poll data starting to come in at around 8:45 p.m. Complete results will be available by 9:30 p.m.

Check out our Civic Election 2010 page for archived stories on campaign announcements from both of the front-running mayoral candidates.

ChrisD.ca will have a team of photographers and reporters spread out between campaign parties and will provide photos and reports from the field throughout the night.

Be sure to follow us on Twitter for live updates: @ChrisDca

Posted by Sarah Klein

In her last big push to sway voters, mayoral candidate Judy Wasylycia-Leis laid it all out on Friday, recapping her platform and promises leading up to this point on the campaign trail.

Watch:

With the Esplanade Riel pedestrian bridge in the background, the former NDP MP spoke to reporters at the corner of Tache and Cathedrale in St. Boniface, where she unveiled “Judy’s Plan,” which outlines her vision for a better Winnipeg.

To read what Judy has promised up until this point, visit our archives, where we’ve reported on each campaign announcement she has made since announcing her candidacy in May. A rundown is also available at JudyForMayor.ca/vision.

ChrisD.ca video/WpgCameraMan