The campaigning for the Nova Scotia municipal election is over and the ballots have been counted, changing the face of Halifax Regional Council.
While some familiar faces return, there are some shake-ups. Council will have a newer look when it will be officially sworn in this November.
Jennifer Watts was among a handful that didn't reoffer, but argued for more diversity in the chamber.
Lindell Smith beat out six other candidates in the district of Halifax Peninsula North, becoming the first black council member since 2000.
There were cheers and congratulatory hugs Saturday night for Mayor Mike Savage after winning a second term as mayor.
"I’m very appreciative of the support people have given me and I certainly won’t abuse it," says Mayor Savage.
Long time councilor, and former mayor of Dartmouth, Gloria McCluskey retired, but has had a profound impact on the young man who won her seat.
“She leaves some very big shoes. I think the two things she really brought to council, that I would like to take away from it, she was always very accessible to her constituents and I like the independent spirit she had too,” says Dartmouth Centre councillor elect Sam Austin.
There are fewer women on council, but former radio announcer Lisa Blackburn ousted veteran incumbent Brad Johns to win her seat.
"That is sad to see that we have fewer women on council. I think that is definitely a missed voice and missed perspective when you have fewer women representing HRM,” says Middle/Upper Sackville-Beaver Bank-Lucasville councilor elect Lisa Blackburn.
And while some familiar faces are leaving, some are returning.
Steve Streatch ran in the newly created district of Waverley-Fall river-Musquodoboit Valley last election, but lost to veteran Barry Dalrymple.
Streatch overcame head and neck cancer during his last term in office.
“I feel great, I’m five years outsince I had a cancer scare back in 2011. But I went to see the doctor before I ran this campaign and I said ‘Doc, can I run?’ and he said ‘yes and you tell the people I said so’ so I’m feeling really good,” says Fall River-Musquodoboit Valley councilor elect Steve Streatch.
Some of the winners in the rest of the Nova Scotia include Cecil Clarke, who was narrowly re-electedas the mayor of the Cape Breton Regional Municipality with 22,000 votes to Rankin MacSween's nearly 21,000.
In Truro, Bill Mills was re-elected and Yarmouth's mayor Pam Mood has earned another term with more than 2,000 votes.
Amherst has a new mayor, David Kogon, with controversial councillor George Baker coming in second.
With files from CTV Atlantic’s Marie Adsett.
