Rajko Dodic elected as Lethbridge’s new mayor

Two-term alderman Rajko Dodic squeaked past consumer advocate Chris Spearman by just 208 votes to become that city’s new mayor.

A city that’s elections are normally characterised by low turnout and voter apathy is seeing a renewed interest in the democratic process.

Lethbridge’s 2010 municipal election saw a high voter turnout for the first time in years.

On Thursday, the final day of advanced voting, over 1200 residents turned out to place their vote.

To date about 2500 votes have already been counted. That’s an increase in advanced poll numbers of 1143 from 2007.

Roughly 1100 citizens voted before the election in 2004, and only 922 in 2001.

Not only is the city seeing a high number of voters turnout, but a surge in candidates running also defined the 2010 municipal election.

Six candidates are vying for the position of mayor, and 30 candidates are running for council.

Public forums leading up to Monday’s vote had been standing room only, and University of Lethbridge students led campaigns to combat voter apathy.