Winnipeg election polls closed

Winnipeggers headed to the polls on Wednesday to choose their first new mayor in a decade, as well as elect councillors and school trustees.

Seven people are in the running to succeed Sam Katz, who has been mayor of the Manitoba capital since 2004 and is not seeking re-election.

The candidates for mayor are, in alphabetical order: Brian Bowman, Michel Fillion, Paula Havixbeck, Robert-Falcon Ouellette, David Sanders, Gord Steeves and Judy Wasylycia-Leis.

Voters are also electing new councillors in four wards where the incumbents arenot running again.

Election polls were open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. CT on Wednesday.

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Ready to take over as mayor

Wasylycia-Leis, who cast her ballot at Luxton School at 9 a.m., told reporters she was upbeat.

"I'm just pumped for the results and ready to take over as mayor of Winnipeg."

Rick Rennie, who was among the early voters at Robert A. Steen Community Centre in Winnipeg'sWolseleyarea, thinks the opportunity to choose a new mayor may draw more people out to the polls.

"I think it's great that we have some tight competition going into the mayor's race. I think that's always good for public interest and just for democracy in general, he said.

"With a couple of close frontrunners, that's been really good for the race as well.And with the lead shifting a few times over the last several months, I think that's kept people's interests too."

Pete Peters, whovoted at Luxton School in Winnipeg, said withall the backroom deals in the past few years, he is looking forward to seeing a new council.

"We lack transparency, especially when we have people who have been there so long. I'd like to see at least half the council change for that reason," he said.

Those who are eligible to cast ballots were advised to bring their voters notice cards to the station, as well as identification confirming their name and current address.

Municipal and school division elections were also being held in Brandon and in numerous rural municipalities across Manitoba.