Hygenn says he’ll run again

By Lethbridge Herald on May 15, 2025.

Al Beeber
Lethbridge Herald

Lethbridge mayor Blaine Hyggen is making another run for the top job in civic governance.

Hyggen announced late Wednesday afternoon that he will be seeking re-election in the Oct. 20 municipal election.

In 2021, Hyggen secured 11,973 votes – 42.9 per cent of the total – to  be elected as mayor in his first campaign for the position, after beating former council member Bridget Mearns by 508 votes.

Hyggen was first elected to city council in 2013 and was re-elected in 2017. He’s the first person to declare a candidacy for the mayor’s position.

Hyggen made his announcement in front of a crowd of supporters at Honkers Pub and Eatery in North Lethbridge.

At his campaign launch, Hyggen told a crowd of supporters including family and friends that “

After being introduced by his wife Jenn, Hyggen told the packed crowd at his launch “three and a half years ago you put your trust in me” to lead as mayor which he called his greatest honour.

Hyggen said together council has worked to build something lasting and made meaningful investments in public safety, infrastructure, housing and other initiatives and made clear that “no voice in our community will go unheard.”

He told a media scrum his top priorities for the future include doctor recruitment and retention as well as public safety.

For another term he is reiterating that priorities also include fiscal responsibility and needs before wants.

“Serving as your mayor has been the greatest honour of my life but the  work isn’t finished. I’m running for re-election to continue building a Lethbridge that is safe, welcoming, and full of opportunity for  everyone who calls this city home,” Hyggen said in a media statement.

“We’ve made meaningful progress, but there’s more to do. With the  support of the community, I’m ready to keep moving Lethbridge forward  — with common-sense leadership and a deep respect for the people I  serve.”

In the last four years, says Hyggen, he has supported law enforcement and improved access to  mental health and addictions services as well as advancing strategies  to address homelessness in Lethbridge. He’s also worked on economic growth by championing small business recovery and attracting investment “to fuel local job creation.”

And the mayor says he has worked to ensure taxpayer dollars are spent wisely with transparency and long-term planning in mind.

Hyggen has set up a website – www.hyggen.ca – that details his priorities for the next four-term term of council. That website went  live on Wednesday night.