Three-way race emerges for Saskatoon mayor: poll

Four names are set to be on the ballot, but three candidates lead the pack.

A new poll by Mainstreet/Postmedia found a tight three-way race taking shape for mayor of Saskatoon. 

The poll was taken before the first public mayoral forum was held Wednesday.

Incumbent Don Atchison leads the race with 26 per cent. Charlie Clark is a close second at 23 per cent with Kelley Moore right behind at 22 per cent. 

Incumbent Don Atchison leads the race with 26 per cent. Charlie Clark is a close second at 23 per cent with Kelley Moore right behind at 22 per cent. 

Newcomer Devon Hein sits at one per cent.

The results see a three per cent drop in support for Atchison and a loss of one per cent for Clark.

Moore moved up, with a boost of four percentage points.

Additionally, the poll found the number of undecided voters went up and now stands at 28 per cent. That number jumped to 32 per cent among respondents who said they were “certain to vote.”

“The opposite of what we would expect as the campaign progresses,” said David Valentin, executive vice-president of Mainstreet Research, in a news release Friday.

“It’s the large pool of undecided voters who would make the difference in the election campaign.”

Travis Hanzel is one of those undecided voters.

“The whole issue of locking up your dog on a pole, whoever gets rid of that stupid rule, will have my vote,” he said, adding he also wants candidates to stop wasting money on projects.

“I don’t know why we waste dollars on poop-color buildings along the river,” he said.

For Waja Hat, the deciding factor comes down to property taxes.

“Lower the taxes and spend more money on roads, that’s who will have my vote,” Hat said.

Poll results were also given for favourability ratings.

Valentin said 51% of the city has an unfavourable view of Atchison, while Charlie Clark is seen favourably by 34% and unfavourably by 29%—a five-point gap.

“Despite the fact Kelley Moore is polling well, not many know too much about her—67% of Saskatoon residents either have no firm opinion or are not familiar with Moore,” Valentin said in the release.

“One thing they do know however: she is not Charlie Clark or Don Atchison.”

Valentin went on to say Moore stands to benefit if support drops for either Atchison or Clark, while Clark would see the biggest boost if Moore’s support were to waver.

The Mainstreet/Postmedia poll has a margin of error of +/- 3.38%, 19 times out of 20.

—with files from JT Marshall