Mayoral candidates answer questions
By Lethbridge Herald on October 9, 2025.
Joe Manio
Lethbridge Herald
Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
More than 120 residents turned out to listen to, and question, the four mayoral candidates in the upcoming municipal election during the first candidates forum at the Lethbridge Public Library Tuesday evening.
Incumbent Mayor Blaine Hyggen presented his case for re-election to the audience while challengers Quentin Carlson, Ryan Mennie and Michael Petrakis gave their own reasons why they should take over the mayor’s chair.
Political newcomers Carlson and Petrakis (who ran for Lethbridge City Council in 2021) spoke of the need for new ideas and different approaches. Hyggen cited his experience at the job and his established working relationships while Mennie emphasized his previous experience as a city councilor in Campbell River, B.C.
Issues on the minds of Lethbridge voters included election rules, voting process and transparency; affordable housing and supply; housing planning, and land use; budget, capital projects, infrastructure and funding pressures; public safety and policing; transit; government transparency and accountability; and last but definitely not least…property taxes and tax burdens.
Property taxes were on the minds of both the candidates and othe voters in attendance. The candidates mentioned it in their opening remarks, and the subject was in questions from both media and the audience members during the question and answers segment of the forum.
The common denominator about property taxes was the “unsustainable levels” they’re reaching (or have reached) and the effects on residents.
Other issues brought up during the two-hour forum included transit infrastructure, public safety, a proposed third bridge across the Oldman River, a new performing arts centre, communication between local government and Lethbridge residents.
Some questions were easier to answer than others, like introducing partisan politics at the municipal level, and Alberta separation, to which both Hyggen and Carlson quickly answered with a resounding no.
Other more pointed questions directed at political veterans Hyggen and Mennie from audience members about their political track-records proved more challenging.
Upcoming forums and meet and greets, where voters can question or speak one-on-one with the candidates, include a Lethbridge Chamber of Commerce forum for mayoral and council candidates on Tuesday, Oct. 14 at the Yates Memorial Theatre from 5-8 p.m. Free registration is required, which you can do by visiting: lethbridgechamber.com/events/
There is a meet and greet with candidates at the Lethbridge Senior Citizens Organization (LSCO) on Wednesday, Oct. 15 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. and a mix and mingle with candidates at the Allied Arts Council on the same day from 7-9 p.m. at the Southern Alberta Ethnic Association.
For undecided voters unable to attend any of the forums or meet and greet events, each candidate has a video about their platforms on the City of Lethbridge Elections page at Lethbridge.ca/election.
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It was great to meet the majority, 15 out of 18, council candidates and i believe 5 school board trustees during our weekly Men’s Shed and Coaldale meetings. As a new society which started last summer, it was great to put faces with the candidates and hear their platform. As well, they got to know us. Being a new society and holding this event over the past month helps spread the word quickly and grow. Thank you candidates once again and good luck in the election.
Regarding Candidate Mennie, someone from his campaign team came to our door last month. When we asked a few basis questions, the person was clueless and never offered to have Mennie contact us, rather gave us a hand bill with Mennie’s e-mail contact ….. we sent several e-mails to Mr. Mennie and since he never responded to the e-mails we did our own research. We quickly located a lot of information via Google searches and this was very telling.
Mennie, an actor, comedian, radio personality……. Remind you of a certain Prime Minister most recently???? Mennie was from “NDP” BC’s Campbell River. He did serve on their City Council. We found some troubling information regarding his time on that council. Most damning was a public petition that is on record, trying to remove him from their council! It appears that in 2014, while sitting on Campbell City Council, he physically moved from that city of just over 30,000 residents. Mennie moved not only out of the city but out of the province (to Alberta) and absolutely refused to step down from his paid position on their City Council! He felt “entitled” (according to reports) and self declared he would conduct his “council duties” via “Skype” and cell phone while living here in Lethbridge. This was eventually challenged by the petition and a pending legal case in British Columbia Supreme Court! THIS IN ITSELF IS A POSITIVE RED FLAG TO CAUTIOUS OF THIS SELF RIGHTEOUS MAN!
Secondly, although true he does have “City Council experience” a big difference between Campbell River (30,000 residents) to Lethbridge (110,000 residents)! Campbell River on the east coast of Vancouver Island a remote Salmon fishing community absolutely nothing in common with light industrial and agricultural based Lethbridge.
Mennie and his family appear to be attending a cultish church outside of Lethbridge. This church recently broke away from their denomination and became an “independent entity”.
Finally, Mennie initially touted his challenge as a City Councillor in this election, which may been a viable testing ground for his candidacy, however mid-campaign he is now challenging the Mayor seat????? Lethbridge, wake up! We can not remotely consider “parachuting” anyone into the Mayor’s seat without grounding in our City political arena! On the other hand, incumbent Mayor Hyggen has tenure on our City Council and has served Lethbridge well as Mayor. We all remember when he was a Councillor under another “parachuted Mayor” Spearman, when he (Hyggen) spoke up against the Supervised Consumption Site. While Spearman continually took cheap shots at him and former Councillor Joe Mauro, Hyggen took the higher ground and did not succumb to Spearman’s antics. Even though being bullied in such fashion by then Mayor, Spearman, Hyggen did not retaliate rather held his ground and maintained his position.
Hyggen has our votes for Mayor!
I know what you are saying . . . I also heard of some inappropriate attacks against the Mayor and a campaign manager, whom I know and respect so instead of attacking I will say what I know about the Mayor, John Middleton-Hope and that campaign manager in question.
The encumbants and the campaign manager built the campaigns on honesty and integrity, and would never stoop to attacking another candidate or encumbant. I have worked with all three and they have my highest respect!
The attacks I heard were unwarranted and without validity and when someone can only win by trying to attack others, they are not true leaders.
I worked on the recent campaign with J M-H and he made it very clear that all volunteers be sure that the campaign was clean!
The Mayor brought peace to the council chambers with his leadership after a troublemaker who was on council left, one who openly disrespected some of the other council members who were bringing concerns raised by citizens, and that person acted unprofessionally in what I would call dogfights during Council meetings!
No politician is perfect, not one, but I will state that Mayor Hyggen has my vote as do most of the encumbant Councilors.
Lastly, when someone tries to bring down a dedicated person to our community, who has not just given much of her time, but has contributed financially more than most, her and her family, that is completely unacceptable. I consider that person a friend and she doesn’t deserve the attack against her, which had zero truth!
That is the world we now live in it appears, where people are allowed to attack others in this manner, in an effort to make themselves look good! In this case, those attacks will fail, because too many people in this city know the truth!
I do want to say more and I would love to, but it would not be what the Mayor, J M-H or the manager in question would want . . . they have more integrity than to play dirty!