Lethbridge’s mayor-elect says he is honoured to serve the community for four more years.
Blaine Hyggen says the mandate heard from the community is clear: people want to see council continue to move the city forward and make the city a better place.
“Continue the advocacy work that we’re doing, do the doctor recruitment strategies in this, and I want to emphasize something that’s really important, which is that recruiting doctors is not our mandate per se, but those doctors live in our community. So we want to make sure it’s a place that those doctors want to move to,” Hyggen explains.
Hyggen says he will also continue to advocate for a third bridge with other levels of government, because without that additional support, the cost of a third bridge would result in a property tax increase that, at a minimum, would be 24 per cent over 10 years. Hyggen says he cannot support that.
“However, I will support working and advocating to other levels of government, and I had mentioned to others on the campaign trail that I’ve advocated for this. One of my first resolutions when I was elected as mayor [in 2021]was to advocate on behalf of the citizens of Lethbridge to the provincial government and the federal government for help with funding for a third bridge.”
Hyggen says he has been back and forth to Edmonton roughly 19 times about a third bridge because of the need for outside support.
“We’ll do all we can to get the funding that we need to build this bridge. It’s going to be needed. It’s, it’s in our [Capital Improvement Projects] in the future, so we are going to need one eventually.”
Within 24 hours of being unofficially re-elected, Hyggen is already headed to Edmonton for the Provincial Throne Speech and to meet with different ministers.
“I need to let them be aware of what Lethbridge needs, and we keep shouting that. It’s important that we go and travel to meet directly with these ministers and the premier.”
“Then on the way back [I’m] stopping in Calgary for meetings with a couple more ministers, and so we just got to keep that advocacy work going,” Hyggen says. “I just get to continue what we’ve already started, and I’m happy to be able to do that.”
While Hyggen says he is ready to hit the ground running, he also took time to thank everyone who participated in the election, the election staff and the countless workers who have assisted in this democratic process.
“Every individual who stepped up with the intention to serve our community, whether for mayor, council or school trustee. Thank you. Thank you for your courage,” Hyggen says.
However, the mayor-elect is also asking the community to treat those who stepped up to run in the municipal election with respect.
“We all deserve, whether you see them in person or you interact with them online, it’s a little hard. Remember, guys, these, these are your fellow citizens, individuals that are sworn to do the best to make our community a better place,” Hyggen says. “You wouldn’t believe the threats, etcetera, that come out online. If it’s physical, if it’s talking about your family or fellow colleagues, it’s just Lethbridge can do so much better, and they need to do better. People are passionate, and I can appreciate that the democratic process, right? But engage in conversation that can get you somewhere, and they’re important.”
Hyggen also took the opportunity to thank the families of the candidates, as they have shown their support throughout the election process.
Results from the 2025 Municipal Election will be official as of noon on Friday.
