Election signs in Paradise point to a mayoral race between Patrick Martin and Larry Vaters. Photo by Nicholas Mercer/The TelegramArticle contentMost municipalities went to the polls Thursday, Oct. 2, to elect new mayors and councils, with only two exceptions.THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY.Subscribe now to access this story and more:Unlimited access to the website and appExclusive access to premium content, newsletters and podcastsFull access to the e-Edition app, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment onEnjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalistsSupport local journalists and the next generation of journalistsSUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES.Subscribe or sign in to your account to continue your reading experience.Unlimited access to the website and appExclusive access to premium content, newsletters and podcastsFull access to the e-Edition app, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment onEnjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalistsSupport local journalists and the next generation of journalistsRegister to unlock more articles.Create an account or sign in to continue your reading experience.Access additional stories every monthShare your thoughts and join the conversation in our commenting communityGet email updates from your favourite authorsSign In or Create an AccountorArticle contentSt. John’s postponed its election until Wednesday, Oct. 8. The capital city uses vote by mail and due to the Canada Post strike, feared that thousands of ballots could be unaccounted for, prompting the decision to delay. A tool is now available to determine whether ballots have been received; anyone who mailed a ballot that did not reach city hall before the postal strike will be able to vote in person on Oct. 8.Article contentArticle contentThe other municipality that didn’t go to the polls today was the Town of Small Point-Broad Cove-Blackhead-Adam’s Cove, which won’t hold an election until this spring. The area, which was ravaged by wildfire for most of the summer, received permission to defer the election until April 14, 2026.Article contentArticle contentArticle contentWhere are the races to watch?Article contentOne of the biggest races is in Paradise, where Larry Vaters and Patrick Martin are squaring off for the mayor’s seat.Article contentVaters was elected for the first time in 2021, but has been a longtime community volunteer in Paradise, while Martin has been on council for 12 years and felt this is the right time to take the leap to mayor.Article contentIn Mount Pearl, there’s no race for mayor as Dave Aker was acclaimed, but there are plenty of people vying for a position on council.Article contentIncumbent Don Coombs and Terry Barnes are battling again for the mayor’s seat in Harbour Grace. This is the fourth time they’ve gone against each other for the town’s top elected position. As it stands, Coombs is 2-1 in mayor’s races with Barnes.Article contentIn Corner Brook, it’s guaranteed to be a female mayor for only the second time in the city’s history. Linda Chiasson and Pamela Gill are facing off for the position. Both women have previously served on council and hope to replace Jim Parsons, who had been planning to reoffer but stepped away for a shot at provincial politics.Article contentArticle contentNeither Gander nor Grand Falls-Windsor have a mayor’s race this time around, with Percy Farwell facing no opposition for the role in Gander for the second term in a row, and Mike Browne becoming the newly acclaimed mayor of Grand Falls-Windsor.Article contentArticle contentIn Lab City, however, there’s a four-way race for mayor, with two former Labrador West MHAs — Nick McGrath and Jordan Brown — competing against current deputy mayor Mitchell Marsh and political newcomer Matthew Fowler.Article contentIn Conception Bay South, Mayor Darrin Bent was acclaimed, but there were plenty of people who put their name forward for council.Article contentPolls will close in most municipalities at 8 p.m., with results expected to come after that. We’ll have live updates throughout the night.Article contentResults coming inArticle contentSome municipalities are offering residents more ways to get involved in the counting. In Pasadena, on the province’s west coast, residents can watch live via YouTube.Article contentNearby Deer Lake is also offering a stream of live results.Article contentOther municipalities are posting the unofficial results on their websites and via social media channels.Article content
LIVE: Newfoundland and Labrador municipal election results
