Longtime councillor Eadie ‘knew it was going to be close,’ but expected to finish on top in Mynarski

Ross Eadie knew his re-election bid would be close, but he didn’t anticipate losing in the neighbourhoods where he grew up.

The 16-year Mynarski councillor, who was defeated Wednesday by political newcomer Natalie Smith, said Thursday the result was difficult to accept because some of his strongest losses were in Luxton, St. John’s Park and surrounding neighbourhoods.

“I knew it was going to be close,” Eadie said. “But I thought it was going to be close with me in first place.”

“I really lost it where I live. So that’s the worst part of it.”

Smith garnered 30.7 per cent of the vote, while Eadie received 29 per cent — a difference of 123 votes.

Eadie believes some longtime supporters assumed he would cruise to victory and didn’t feel compelled to vote. He also credited Smith with running a strong campaign.

He had intended to serve one final term before retiring in 2030, when he would be 70. Now, he says, he’s weighing his options while reflecting on unfinished work, including renovations to the West Kildonan library and efforts to replace the Arlington Bridge “because we need a safe place to cross there.”

He left open the possibility of another political run, specifically mentioning Winnipeg North, the seat held by Liberal MP Kevin Lamoureux.

“If somebody asks me to run against Kevin Lamoureux, I will,” Eadie said.

Eadie was one of four incumbents — Russ Wyatt (Transcona), Devi Sharma (Old Kildonan) and Shawn Dobson (St. James) — who lost Wednesday. Scott Gillingham, who was re-elected mayor, will be joined by nine new councillors in one of the biggest turnovers in decades.

Wyatt said he initially wanted to take a run at the mayor’s office instead of trying to retain his seat, which he held for the better part of 24 years.

But legal challenges, including two outstanding sexual assault charges, prevented him from pursuing that “ambition,” he said.

After invoking the late Saskatchewan premier Tommy Douglas and reciting an old Scottish ballad about recovering from defeat, Wyatt said he’s not done yet.

“I don’t think you’ve seen the last of Russ Wyatt,” he said.

He finished a distant fourth in Transcona, with just 11 per cent of the vote, well behind winner Lora Meseman, who attracted 31 per cent.

Wyatt, who was gracious in defeat and defiant against the sexual assault charges, stemming from separate incidents in 2023 and 2025 — the third time he’s been charged after a 2018 sexual assault charge was stayed in 2019 — said losing will allow him to prioritize his family.

“For 20 years, I put the community first, and often my family second,” he said. “I can flip that around and actually put my family first, for a change.”

He acknowledged the criminal charges against him had significantly hampered his re-election campaign, saying he fought with “two arms tied behind my back,” but maintained his innocence.

Wyatt said he knows the “truth,” and knows he’s “going to be OK,” before adding that his lawyer has advised him not to say anything more on the matter.

Gillingham, who won a second term with 40 per cent of the vote, double that of runner-up Kevin Klein, a former city councillor and provincial Tory cabinet minister, had urged Wyatt not to run again.

“The voters in Transcona spoke loud and clear,” Gillingham told reporters Thursday. “And I will work with Premier (Wab) Kinew on calls for legislative changes that would be required, or could be established, to make sure that the people of Winnipeg can have full confidence in the people that they elect.”

Gillingham said future candidates, including school trustees, must not be in politics if they face crimianl charges.

“There’s got to be a way to maintain the presumption of innocence, and that Charter right, but also put protections in place for the sake of the people who serve. This is about the people Winnipeg.”

In the Old Kildonan ward, former school trustee Greg McFarlane won the seat that Sharma had held since 2014, taking 57 per cent of the vote to Sharma’s 36 per cent.

Sharma didn’t respond to a request for comment on Thursday, but released a statement saying it’s been an honour to work in public service.

“That’s a value handed down to me by several generations of Sharmas,” her statement said. “I was also taught to never hesitate to express gratitude to those who make all things in elected life possible. I am grateful to the residents of Old Kildonan for the honour of serving them as their councillor for 16 years, the first Indo Canadian ever in that role, and the first woman to be chosen Speaker at Winnipeg city council.”

St. James incumbent Dobson was voted out after finishing third to retired Bell MTS manager Kelly Ryback, who had lost to Dobson in 2022. Ryback received 44 per cent of the vote, Tyler Crichton came in second at 31 per cent, and Dobson had 25 per cent.

Dobson has run in seven elections over the past 24 years, winning twice (2014 and 2022).

He did not respond to a request for comment.

scott.billeck@winnipegfreepress.com