Chiarelli re-elected mayor

Ottawa voters have once again elected Bob Chiarelli to the mayoral office at City Hallas was widely expectedwhere he and the newly elected council must tackle the city's looming $120-million deficit.

• ELECTION COVERAGE: Ottawa Votes 2003

The new faces replacing incumbents who decided against running this election are: Peggy Feltmate in Kanata; Eli el-Chantiry in West Carleton; Georges Bdard in Rideau-Vanier; Diane Holmes in Somerset; Maria McRae in River; and Rob Jellett in Cumberland.

In the night's squeaker, incumbent Shawn Little retained his Kitchissippi seat with a touch over one-quarter of popular support in the ward.

Kitchissippi was the riding deemed too close to call for many observers.

Little's problems during this last termtroubles that included facing charges of alleged campaign overspending, and a lawsuit from his own motherbrought forward one of the city's larger slates.

But with a number of strong candidates, none emerged from the pack, splitting the votes and sending Little back to council with just 27 per cent of the vote.

Overall, voter turnout was estimated at 30 per cent by Shane Kennedy, the city's elections manager. That's way down from an uncommonly high turnout of 47 per cent three years ago, when the region was amalgamating into one political entity. In the four elections previous to that, the regional turnout ranged from 32 to 41 per cent.

The jubilation of election night will fall away on Dec. 10, when the reality of running the city becomes concrete for the new council.

That's when Ottawa's acting manager will deliver a staff report recommending how $120 million might be saved from the operating budget.

The councillors and mayor will have the holiday season to mull it over. Key will be deciding whether they can stomach the cuts to services proposed by staff in order to stave off a tax hike.

According to CBC Online's survey of the candidates, at least 15 of the 22-member council favour holding the line on taxes next year.

• COUNCIL BREAKDOWN: How council lines up on the issues

Notable opponents are Alex Cullen and Clive Doucet. As well, incumbents Peter Hume and Jacques Legendre didn't declare either way, leaving the way open for them to support a tax increase.

Even Janet Stavinga, although a supporter of holding the line on taxes, made a caveat that indicates she may think a tax increase is unavoidable.

If you add a council that wants to freeze taxes with a $120-million shortfall, light-rail expansionone of Chiarelli's favourite projectsmay have a tough go of it.

Of all the survey issues, candidates across the city were most split on making light-rail expansion a top priority. And the new council reflects that.

Chiarelli has the support from 14 of the 21 councillors. There may be wider general support for light rail, but given the shortfall, many could not see making it a top priority.

The recurring caveat was to ensure the federal and provincial governments pony up with a commitment before undertaking such a large, long-term capital project.

The new council will come together for the first time on Monday, Dec. 1 at an inaugural meeting that is largely ceremonial.