Mick Sweetman

Nervous energy filled the Vancouver Island Conference Centre Saturday night as Nanaimo's local election results were revealed. Mayor Leonard Krog won re-election, although by narrower margins than in the 2022 and 2018 elections, beating challenger Sarah Lovegrove by 1907 votes. Andréa Coutu and Marnie Boers joined six incumbent candidates on council, while incumbent Janice Perrino fell just short of re-election. The only slate running, REAL Nanaimo did not see a candidate elected for mayor or council, although REAL council candidate Sandy Bartlett was the second runner up, just behind Perrino. Midcoast Morning takes you to the scene of Nanaimo's local election results reveal, and brings reaction from those in the race. Support Midcoast Morning and our Nonprofit Newsroom with a monthly sustaining donation of $5 to $10 a month. Podcast Photo: Incumbent Mayor Leonard Krog watches the results come in. (Jesse Woodward / CHLY 101.7FM)

Ahead of local elections in the City of Nanaimo, questionable polls have been circulating online on social media like Facebook drawing the criticism of community members. An unscientific straw poll was but one issue, but another poll circulated by Noni Bartlett, associated with political slate REAL Nanaimo, appears to have been generated entirely by AI. The poll showed Anne Marie Dryden, candidate for mayor with the REAL slate in the lead over incumbent Leonard Krog, candidates Sarah Lovegrove and Brunie Brunie. In response to community members calling the poll fake, Barlett claimed she had found it elsewhere on Facebook, but did not respond to inquiries regarding said source. No apparent other source was found. Bartlett was contacted for comment, but did not respond by broadcast deadline. The poll was later removed by Bartlett. Political reporter Mick Sweetman joins host Joe Pugh to talk about polls, the fallout, response from mayoral candidates, and explore with guests misinformation in local elections.  Support Midcoast Morning and our Nonprofit Newsroom with a monthly sustaining donation of $5 to $10 a month. Podcast Photo: Social Media Icons close up. (Brett Jordan / Pexels)

Originally planned by the Fair Care Alliance as a forum framed around local elections, a snap provincial election reframed much of the conversation had at the September 24th Fair Care For All Public Health Forum. Politics reporter Mick Sweetman attended the forum, and joins Midcoast Morning’s host Joe Pugh in talking about what was said at the forum by both those speaking, as well local and provincial politicians and candidates in attendance. Support Midcoast Morning and our Nonprofit Newsroom with a monthly sustaining donation of $5 to $10 a month. Podcast Photo: Donna Hais, Chair of the Fair Care Alliance. (Mick Sweetman / CHLY 101.7FM)