Former newspaper publisher Kevin Klein elected in Charleswood-Tuxedo

Kevin Klein will be the new councillor in Charleswood-Tuxedo, defeating former councillor Grant Nordman, Kevin Nichols andKen St. George.

This is the thirdmunicipal election in a row in which the southwestern Winnipeg ward will have a new councillor, after Coun. Marty Morantz announced he would not seek re-election and would instead run for the federal Conservatives inCharleswood-St. James-Assiniboia-Headingley.

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"I'm really honoured," Klein said after hearing the results. "People in this community have put their trust in me, they've put their confidence in me and it's an amazing feeling, it really is."

The former publisher of the Winnipeg Sun vowed to be accessible to the people of Charleswood-Tuxedo. He said a need for openness and communication was the most common concern he heard when campaigning.

"Everybody said ... they don't mind paying taxes, they just want their money's worth and they'd like to know what's going on," he said.

"So I intend to make sure that they do know what's going on, because they pay my salary now and they're my boss, so I work for them."

Klein campaigned on a promise to hold two town halls a year about all developments expected in the ward including the much-anticipated widening ofKenastonBoulevard and the development ofKapyongBarracks.

He pledged to reinvest in community centres, create a more transparent budget process and partner more with private businesses. He also publicly pledged his support for Mayor Brian Bowman, who was re-elected Wednesday night.

Rival represented St. Charles

Before Morantz, the council seat was held by Paula Havixbeck, who served one term following the death of Bill Clement, who was the area's councillor for almost three decades.

Havixbeckdidn't run for re-election in 2014, instead running for mayor. She lost to Bowman.

Nordman, who ran against Klein,served as councillor in the now-defunct St. Charles ward from 2006-14, before being defeated by Shawn Dobson in the 2014 election.

St. Charles was dissolved whennew ward boundarieswere drawn for this election.Dobsonran against ScottGillinghamin St. James, butwas defeated in that race.

'It was worth the shot,' says former councillor

After his second consecutive civic election defeat, Nordmansaid Wednesday evening he is likely done with politics. "But I am not going to say never," he added.

He said unlike 2014, he "didn't have anything to lose" this time out.

"On the upside, we have 5,300 new friends," said Nordman, who came in second in the ward, with a final tally of 5,922 votes (34 per cent) to Klein's 7,403 (42 per cent),according to unofficial results from the City of Winnipeg.

"On the downside, we spent 54 days that we will never get back. But it was worth the shot."

With several incumbent councillors making their way back to city hall, Nordman's advice to Klein was to know his role and start building relationships.

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"With so many incumbents there isn't going to be a lot of room for a rookie to spread his wings," he said.

"To go down there with the attitude that you can change things, that there is a new sheriff in town that is just not the way it works."

Nordman, who was dubbed "Government Grant" during his years in civic politics, spoke out during his campaign against Bowman'sleadership, tellingCBChe didn't "think he was in any way, shape or form ready to be the mayor."

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This isn't the first loss for Nichols, who works for the City of Winnipeg as a safety technician. The perennial candidate has previously run for council and for the Green Party in federal and provincial elections.

He ran on a campaignto hold people accountableat city hall

St. George, a nurse who works in community health,is working with the Main Street Project to establish a transitional home for vulnerable people that he calls Albert House,to be directed by nurses.

• Full coverage of the municipal election
• Winnipeg votes 2018: Charleswood-Tuxedo ward profile