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Calgary Mayor Nenshi Wins Third Term Leading Canada Oil Capital

Calgary Mayor Nenshi Wins Third Term Leading Canada Oil Capital

(Bloomberg) -- Calgary Mayor Naheed Nenshi won a third term to lead Canada’s oil capital, staving off a challenge from lawyer Bill Smith.

Nenshi won about 51 percent of the vote, compared with 44 percent for Smith, according to the city’s election website. The city reported results from 99 percent of its ward stations.

The election marks a victory for liberal politicians in Alberta, a traditionally conservative province where falling oil prices have led to elevated unemployment and voter discontent. The win was much narrower than Nenshi’s triumph in 2013, when he was reelected with 74 percent of the vote. Smith, a former firefighter, campaigned against rising property taxes and city spending, saying he would freeze government salaries, reduce costs and streamline regulations for businesses.

Nenshi, 45, was first elected mayor in 2010. Previously, he worked for McKinsey & Co. and ran a business to help public, private and nonprofit organizations. In 2014, he was named best mayor in the world by the U.K.-based City Mayor’s Foundation.

To contact the reporter on this story: Kevin Orland in Calgary at korland@bloomberg.net.

To contact the editors responsible for this story: Reg Gale at rgale5@bloomberg.net, Kevin Orland, David Scanlan