An Electrifying Election Evening

October 28 was civic election day in Regina and the rest of the province. But, if voter turnout means anything, not many people cared.
Only 24.97 per cent of eligible voters cast a ballot in Regina, down nearly 12 per cent from the 2006 election. The reason for all the no-shows may be found in a recent survey done by Ipsos Reid showed approval rates in the city at 81 per cent for the mayor and 83 per cent for the council - the highest numbers for any municipal government in the country.
The mayoral race this time around was no contest, with incumbent Pat Fiacco winning a fourth consecutive term. The council races brought a few surprises though, most notably Saskatchewan Roughrider Chris Szarka triumphing. Can a boxer (Fiacco is a former boxing champ) and a 235 lb. fullback coexist, you ask? Let's hope so, or we'll have to bring in Jesse "The Body" Ventura to mediate. Or perhaps the Governator...
Anyway, covering election night was interesting. The results came in slowly, but towards the end of the night the chamber filled up with results-watchers.
Fiacco had a little fun after his victory, bringing out a bag of nacho chips in reference to an impersonator on Twitter who talks of his love for the chips. Jim Elliott said he was happy with his runner-up showing and vowed to be back on the ballot in three years. Szarka showed up with his posse near the end of the night and was greeted eagerly by his new colleagues. He was apparently impossible to reach during the campaign, but the media swarmed him in the chamber upon his arrival. By my count he only used two sports cliches in his responses - not bad.
Maybe to increase voter turnout we need to start offering incentives. Big Mac coupons from McDonalds? A one month reprieve from property taxes? A 'Fiacco shovels your driveway for free' coupon?
Yes to all three.