Cynthia Block elected as Saskatoon's next mayor

Cynthia Block will be the first woman to serve as Saskatoon's mayor.

Block defeated four other candidates in a wide-open race, with outgoing Mayor Charlie Clark not seeking re-election.

With 80 of 82 polls reporting as of 12:06 a.m. CST Thursday, Block led the field with 27,415 votes. Former Saskatchewan Party MLA Gordon Wyant was in second with 18,669 votes, and former Saskatoon mayor Don Atchison sat in third with 9,517 votes.

Block arrived at city hall Wednesday night after 11 p.m. to claim her victory as mayor-elect.

"I am honoured," Block said when asked how she feels about being the first woman elected mayor in Saskatoon. "I think representation matters. I want every woman and girl to know that they can lead.… But ultimately, I think that what connected most with residents in this campaign had to do with the vision of our city."

Block also thanked the "strong group of women that led many aspects of [her] campaign."

First elected to Saskatoon city council in 2016, Block spent two terms representing Ward 6 before announcing her run for mayor. The former journalist also ran for the Liberal Party in the 2015 federal election.

"This isn't my victory," Block said Wednesday night. "This is Saskatoon's victory. Saskatoon has chosen a city for all people. They want a modern 21st century city that's moving forward, not backward. A city with that is increasingly representative of places around the world."

Block's campaign focused on the economy and housing, and did not shy away from her record on city council. She touted her support for securing $41 million from Ottawa's Housing Accelerator Fund and said she'll continue to support LINK, the bus rapid transit system.

Block is very familiar with the downtown arena project, as she was city council's strategic lead for the Downtown Event and Entertainment District development.

Block often cited her promise to create a task force focused on homelessness and community safety. She also said the city needs more enhanced and basic shelter spaces and should establish 24-hour drop-in centres.

On the economy, Block promised to create a new tax sub class for small businesses and streamline permitting and licensing aided by a new business connection hub to help business owners navigate city hall.

Block also said she will push for new incentives targeting repairs of affordable rental units, lobby the province to change the Saskatchewan Income Support program and lobby the federal government to put more money into homelessness.

Block defeated four other candidates running for mayor: Wyant, Atchison, Carry Tarasoff and Mike Harder.