Chad Bachynski ousts Masters as Regina’s mayor, promises bold vision

Regina is set to welcome a new mayor. Chad Bachynski led Wednesday’s mayoral race with 31 per cent of the vote. He takes over the seat from Sandra Masters, who was elected in 2020 as Regina’s first female mayor.

When asked how does it feel to hear the words “Mayor Chad Bachynski,” he said it feels humbling.

“(It’s) incredible to see the support, and (I’m) just really excited to enact and take action on the things that we’ve talked about for the last number of weeks,” he said in a scrum following his win.

As for how he won the campaign, he has a few reasons.

“One, people obviously want some change,” Bachynski said. “Two, I think there was a lot of talk about, backing and support, and who’s supporting who. I confidently can say that we ran a true grassroots word of mouth campaign through and through. I think that really resonated with people, and that’s what people took to heart.”

He said he felt the momentum pick up in the last two weeks of the campaign.

“I am running for mayor because I am frustrated with the dramatically increasing property taxes, poor accessibility with never-ending construction and a diminishing sense of safety and security in our city,” Bachynski wrote in response to a 980 CJME questionnaire earlier this month.

Bachynski’s top three priorities for his first 100 days as mayor include meeting with city administration, building a cohesive council, and engaging with key stakeholders. “At least half of the council will be new members, and I believe it is important to get to know each person on an individual level to understand how they work best and how they make decisions,” he said.

As a husband and father, Bachynski cited family as part of the inspiration behind his decision to run for office.

980 CJME provided live updates on Wednesday evening, with reporters providing on-air updates every 15 minutes.

We're hearing from Elections Regina that 50-60 per cent of the polling stations had longer lines when polls closed at 8, so it could be a little longer for results to come in. They're hoping this means a higher voter turnout #yqr

— Lisa Schick (@LMSchickler) November 14, 2024

Incumbent Mayor Sandra Masters faced a tough race, with ten other candidates vying for the top job. “I want to build on the progress we’ve made and finish the good work that we’ve started,” Masters said in a previous interview with 980 CJME.

Challenging her for the role was winner Chad Bachynski, Lori Bresciani, Melina Bushenlonga, Bevann Fox, Nathaniel Hewton, Kevin Kardash, Bob Pearce, Bill Pratt, Shawn Sparvier and Rod Williams.

Who is my city councillor?

Regina’s new city council features a wave of fresh faces, with only two incumbents securing re-election: Jason Mancinelli (Ward 9) and Shanon Zachidniak (Ward 8).

Who are Regina’s public school board trustees?

Regina’s public school board is divided into seven subdivisions. While fewer subdivisions are used compared to wards in the city, these seven areas reflect the needs of the city’s population and geography.

Who are Regina’s Catholic school board trustees?

Regina’s Catholic school board consists of seven trustees, who are elected to represent the entire city. The trustees listed below will oversee the operation of Catholic schools in Regina.

• Ryan Bast
• Rob Bresciani
• Vicky Bonnell
• Greg Fischer
• Robert Kowalcuk
• Shauna Weninger
• Darren Wilcox