The Halifax Regional Municipality officially has a new mayor and council.
Mayor Mike Savage, three new councillors, and several incumbents were sworn in Tuesday night at the Spatz Theatre at Citadel High School.
Savage is the third mayor of the municipality, which was effectively created by his father, former premier John Savage.
The new mayor says his first order of business is getting to know his new council.
“That’s where I’m putting my effort and I’ve been really encouraged with the council and the meeting’s that I’ve had and I think we’re going to make progress on issues,” says Savage.
“We’re going to disagree, we should disagree, but I think we’re going to get things done.”
The new councillor in District 7, Waye Mason - who defeated longtime councillor Sue Uteck - says he expects to see some major changes in the city’s new council.
“Council is changed. While there’s only three new people, ten of the people who used to be there aren’t there now,” says Mason.
“So, I think that you’re seeing a real change in the dynamic already and I’m really hopeful that with a new mayor that we’ll have a new tone for council.”
One councillor was not sworn in Tuesday night.
A judicial recount is underway in District 3, where Jackie Barkhouse was declared the winner on election night, but Bill Karsten was later declared the winner in a very tight race.
A judge will now decide between the two.