George Harvie elected mayor of Delta; Lois Jackson, mayor since 1999, wins council seat

• JUMP TO CITY: Langley |Maple Ridge | Pitt Meadows|Delta | Chilliwack | Abbotsford | Mission | Hope

Many communities that have been thought of as rural or semi-rural are grappling with traditionally "big city" issues during the 2018 election campaign.

In the Fraser Valley and all the way to Delta, homelessness, crime, urban development and transportation are all big issues for many communities.

Langley City and Township

Formermayor, MLA and provincial cabinet minister Peter Fassbender lost his bid for his old job Saturday night ina tight race withCoun.Val van denBroek, who will become mayor.

Serena Oh was also in the running to succeedretiring Mayor Ted Schaffer.

A major issue for the candidates will be the future of transportation in the region. While plans are already well underway for light rail service to come to the city, both Fassbenderandvan denBroekwant to see SkyTrainextended instead.

Langley Cityelected six councillors:Nathan Pachal,Rosemary Wallace,Paul Albrecht,Gayle Martin,Rudy StorteboomandTeri James.

In Langley Township, MayorJack Froesewas re-elected, beatingchallengersAlex JoehlandAnna Remenik.

Township voters elected eight councillors: David Davis,Eric Woodward,Kim Richter,Bob Long,Blair Whitmarsh,Steve Ferguson,Petrina ArnasonandMargaret Kunst.

Maple Ridge

Former councillorMikeMordenhas been elected mayor of Maple Ridge.

With incumbent Nicole Read not seeking re-election, five candidates sought her job: Morden,Coun. CraigSpeirs, former mayor Ernie Daykin, Mike Shields and Douglas Blamey.

Politics in Maple Ridge have often turned ugly in recent years over the issue of homelessness. Read enduredthreats over her support of homeless residents in the city. Homeless people have described being physically attacked.

The candidates for mayor have differed over how best to approach the issue.

Six people were elected to Maple Ridge council:Judy Dueck,Gordy Robson,Chelsa Meadus,Ahmed Yousef,Ryan Svendsen andKiersten Duncan.

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Pitt Meadows

CBCprojects Coun. Bill Dingwallwillunseat incumbent John Becker to become the next mayor of Pitt Meadows.

Thesmall city's race yielded some big drama.

Becker and Dingwallwere notafraid of taking shots at each other over character and management style.

A flashpoint has been Becker's handling of the conviction of former councillorDavid Murray's convictionforsexual assault.

Other issues in this year's race include transportation,keeping taxes low andbalancing urban development with the city's agricultural.

Six candidates wereelected to Pitt Meadows council:Nicole MacDonald,Tracy Miyashita,Mike Hayes,Bob Meachen,Gwen O'ConnellandAnena Simpson.

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Delta

Former city chief administrative officer GeorgeHarviewas elected mayor of Delta and willsucceed long-serving Mayor Lois Jackson.

Also in the running wereCoun. Sylvia Bishop,former police chief Jim Cessford,andpolitical newcomersVytas Vaitkus, Moneca Kolvynand Alex Megalos.

Perhaps no issue loomed larger in this election than transportation.

Plans toreplacethe George Massey Tunnel have been put on hold by the NDP provincial government and candidates spoke of the need to find a solution.

Jackson, who hasbeen in the mayor's seat since 1999, ran for councilthis year. She was elected along withAlicia Guichon,Dan Copeland,Jeannie Kanakos,Bruce McDonald andDylan Kruger.

Chilliwack

Coun. Ken Popove was electedmayor of Chilliwack, unseating three-term incumbentSharonGaetz.

Coun. SamWaddington, 2014 council candidate Brigida Crosbie and towing company ownerDave Rowan were also in the race.

One controversy in the race involvedWaddington. His council colleaguesreferred his expensesto theRCMPand an independent auditora month before election day. He said that move was politically motivated.

Controversial school trustee Barry Neufeld, whose resignation had been called for by both the Chilliwack school board and at least one parents' group, wasre-elected.

Neufeldhas been a vocal critic of the sexual orientation and gender identity program (SOGI) in B.C.'s school curriculum andanti-bullying policies.

Two other anti-SOGI trustee candidates were elected: Darrell Furgason and Heather Maahs. There are a total of seven trustees on the Chilliwack school board, including a board chair and vice-chair.

Chilliwack elected six city councillors: Jason Lum, Chris Kloot, Bud Mercer, Jeff Shields, Sue Attrill and Harv Westeringh.

Abbotsford

Incumbent Mayor Henry Braun won his bid for re-election in Abbotsford.

He defeated veteran Coun.Moe Gill, Christian activistGerdaPeachey, accountantEricNyvall,Nadine Snow and Trevor Eros, awrestler and event promoter also known as"That Guy Danni Deeds."

Candidates have listed crime, homelessness, affordability and transportation particularly road safety and improving Highway 1 as top priorities.

Crime may be front of mind for voters after aman wasgunned down in front of an Abbotsford bankThursday evening. He was one of at least three shot to death in the city since August.

Former mayor Bruce Banmansuccessfully ranfor a seat on council. Other successful council candidates were Patricia Ross,Les Barkman,Dave Loewen,Brenda Falk,Ross Siemens,Kelly ChahalandSandy Blue.

Mission

In Mission,Coun.Pam Alexis defeated incumbent Randy Hawesto become the district's next mayor.

IainGilfillan andnovelty-video-making candidate Wyatt Scottwere also in the race. Earlier in 2018, Scott wasacquitted of sexual assault,according to the Abbotsford News.

Candidates made the economic future of the city a focus during the campaign. Homelessness and managing urban growth in a city with a rural character were also front and centre.

Six councillors were elected in Mission:Jag Gill,Cal Crawford,Carol Hamilton,Danny Plecas,Ken HerarandMark Davies.

Hope

Former councillor Peter Robb defeated incumbent Wilfried Vicktor to take the mayor's chairin the District of Hope.

Cindy Young was also in the race.

Six councillors wereelected inthe District of Hope: Victor Smith,Scott Medlock,Dusty Smith,Craig Traun,Heather StewinandBob Erickson.

• Full coverage of the 2018 B.C. Municipal Elections