Charlie Clark ready to get to work as Saskatoon's new mayor

Charlie Clark still can't believe the results of last night's election in Saskatoon.

With 41 per cent, the veteran Ward 6 councillor beat incumbent mayor Don Atchison last night by just over 3,000 votes. Atchison was vying for his fifth term as mayor.

"It's all still a little bit surreal," Clark told CBC Radio's Saskatoon Morning. "I'm just so humbled to be sitting here as mayor-elect for Saskatoon."

The path to the mayor's chair had a number of twists and turns. Clark was in third place in the polls for a large part of the campaign, until a surge in popularity last week.

• Charlie Clark defeats Don Atchison to become Saskatoon's new mayor-elect
• Don Atchison loses bid for 5th term as Saskatoon mayor
• Full results from Saskatoon's civic election

Clark said he was running to win from the beginning.

Whether you're a suburban person or a downtown person, a businessperson or somebody involved in community issues, east side or west side, Indigenous or non-Indigenous, everybody has something to bring to the table.- Charlie Clark

"I've got to tell you, the last 10 days of the campaign were amazing. Even as those polls...showed me in third place, people came and rallied and got behind the campaign, and volunteered their time and energy and resources and talents."

As the newly elected council gets ready for the business of governing, Clark said he wants to be the mayor of the entire city, not just the people who voted for him.

"What I wanted to offer was a really inclusive approach to being mayor," he said.

"A mayor who brings the whole city together, somebody who is the mayor for everybody. Whether you're a suburban person or a downtown person, a businessperson or somebody involved in community issues, east side or west side, Indigenous or non-Indigenous, everybody has something to bring to the table."

Charlie Clark elected as Saskatoon mayor

8 years ago

Duration 2:09

Charlie Clark in the spotlight after winning Saskatoon mayoral race

Sticking to campaign

As mayor, Clark said he would be focusing on the core issues he campaigned on.

"We need to make sure that we are still creating jobs in Saskatoon, that we're making that change in our growth pattern, that we're making sure that our neighbourhoods are safe and addressing some of the concerns about community safety and well-being that we have in our city."

While it may be a little early to talk about the future, Clark said he wasn't interested in a lengthy term as mayor.

"It's been one day, so I haven't laid that out," he said. "But in my mind, I'm thinking two terms is a good amount of time to try and get a lot of work done and to try and create some room for the next person to come in."

Inauguration for the new city council will be held Oct. 31, at 6 p.m. CST.

How Clark won

Joe Garcea, a Political Studies professor at the University of Saskatchewan,saidhe's not surprised Clark was able to secure enough votes for the win.

"We saw an outcome that was based on a desire for change," Garcea said.

"This was an election that was won in the virtual world but also in the trenches."

Garcea said there were a number of factors that allowed Clark to stage a comebackto defeat 13-year incumbent Atchison. He said it was almosta perfect storm leading up to election day.

"It all came together in the last week for Mr. Clark," he said."Things were rather iffy. The waters were rather turbulent and there were some dangerous waterfalls he had to navigate before he got to the end line."

As for that last minute Zach Galifianakis endorsement for Clark, Garcea said it was certainly a boost.

"The Hollywood star endorsing Charlie Clark certainly drew a lot of attention to the election and Mr. Clark himself. He got essentially a coverage boost that the other candidates did not."

Garcea said he'll be paying close attention to seeing how the new mayor elect and new councillors are able to work together.