Hodge wins in Coquitlam, Lurbiecki is new mayor in Port Moody, PoCo re-elects West in landslide

After decades in the city as a news photographer and city councillor, Craig Hodge is Coquitlam’s new mayor.

Hodge received 15,654 votes – more than twice as many as fellow city councillor turned mayoral candidate Trish Mandewo who finished with 7,309 votes. Madhavee Inamdar ended the night with 2,895 votes.

Stepping on stage before a jovial crowd at Glen Pine Pavilion a little after 10 p.m., Hodge talked about the future of the city.

“I know not everybody voted for me in this election,” he said. “The work ahead will require collaboration, honest conversations, and a willingness to find common ground.”

Hodge said he was “deeply honoured and humbled” to receive the support and trust of Coquitlam voters.

“As the mayor, I’m going to be working to bring people together, to listen carefully, to make thoughtful decisions and to approach the challenges ahead with determination, respect, and the clear focus that the people here deserve,” he told the crowd. “Tonight we celebrate, tomorrow we get to work.”

The four incumbents on the ballot were each re-elected, with Matt Djonlic, Robert Mazzaroo, Steve Kim, and Teri Towner the top four vote-getters in Coquitlam.

Newcomers to council include Matthew Sebastiani, Harvey Su, Rosalinda Thorleifson, and Benjamin Perry.

With 26,180 ballots cast, voter turnout in Coquitlam was 24.42.

Port Moody

There’s a new mayor in the city of the arts, as challenger Haven Lurbiecki edged incumbent Meghan Lahti in a race that came down to 546 votes.

Over the previous four years, Coun. Lurbiecki and Mayor Lahti were frequently on opposite sides of council decisions, with Lurbiecki objecting to the city’s official community plan and decrying development plans for a “wall of towers.”

Amid a raucous mood at Train Wreck Brewing, Lurbiecki credited the victory to a groundswell in the community.

“Without a doubt, people want a change. They’re not happy with the current direction of our community,” she said.

As the leader of Port Moody Voice, the first political party in the city’s history, Lurbiecki was surrounded on election night by candidates including newly-elected councillor Alexandra Chan.

“We did a fully-funded campaign without taking developer money,” Lurbiecki said. “We captured what people cared about and motivated them to get out and vote and change.”

The election marks a new era for Port Moody, Lurbiecki said.

“This is a change council and,” she said. “I’m looking forward to – if I remain mayor-elect – getting to work with the council and figuring out a new vision for the city.”

A few blocks away at Lahti’s St. Johns Street campaign office, the mayor chatted with friends and family as supporters stared at cellphones waiting for results to trickle in.

When the first batch of numbers showed Lurbiecki in the lead, the hum of good-natured conversation dropped.

“I want a recount,” council candidate John Grasty joked.

“I feel sick,” another supporter said.

Seated at the end of a table looking over the preliminary totals, Lahti extended her congratulations to Lurbiecki.

While the result was a disappointment, Lahti said she was proud of her campaign.

“We stayed positive. We did not stoop low,” Lahti said.

Paul Lambert topped the polls among council candidates, garnering 5,357 votes. Incumbent Callan Morrison was next in line with 5,026 votes.

Incumbents Amy Lubik and Kyla Knowles received 4,167 and 4,119 votes, respectively.

Newcomers Peter Thomasen as well as Alexandra Chan of Port Moody Voice will round out Port Moody’s next council.

Incumbents Diana Dilworth and Samantha Agtarap each failed to keep their seats on council. Former councillor Steve Milani also fell short in his bid to return to council.

With 10,425 ballots cast, voter turnout in Port Moody was 38.97 percent.

Port Coquitlam

The new council will look exactly like the old council.

With approximately 90 percent of the vote, Mayor Brad West breezed back into office.

Mayoral candidate Connor Fesenmaier received 1,087 votes while Pasquale Zampieri garnered 245, well short of West’s 12,907.

West thanked supporters and volunteers while reaffirming his commitment to work for all residents.

“To those who voted differently, I want you to know that I work for you too. Every single person in Port Coquitlam deserves a mayor who listens, works hard and puts their interests first,” he wrote in a social media post.

West acknowledged the faltering confidence many resident have in government.

“I believe we can restore that confidence. Not through slogans or empty promises, but through hard work, competence over ideology, and results people can actually see and feel,” he stated.

All six councillors were re-elected with Steve Darling topping the polls with 8,817 votes followed by Nancy McCurrach, Glenn Pollock, Darrell Penner, Paige Petriw, and Dean Washington, who ended the night with 6,719 votes.

Council candidates Darin Nielsen and Solomon Etuk finished approximately 3,300 votes behind.

All results are considered unofficial until certified.