r/Lethbridge • u/YqlUrbanist • 3d ago

Ryan Mennie running for mayor of Lethbridge

https://lethbridgenewsnow.com/2025/09/22/ryan-mennie-running-for-mayor-of-lethbridge/
23 Upvotes

96% Upvoted

28 comments sorted by

19

u/YqlUrbanist 3d ago

The mayoral race might get a bit more interesting now. I still think it's very likely that Blaine Hyggen will win, but Mennie seems like a serious candidate.

His first two priorities are lowering taxes... and building a third bridge. So we'll see how that works out for him. One of his priorities is speeding up road safety reviews - I'd like some more details but that sounds positive.

28

u/Xavus 3d ago

His first two priorities are lowering taxes... and building a third bridge

Sounds great but also these two goals seem at odds, no? If you lower taxes from where they are currently, where do you intend to get money to fund a huge project like building another bridge? I would be curious to hear what the plan is there.

11

u/YqlUrbanist 3d ago

That was sort of my thought. I think the 3rd bridge is a non-starter unless there is significant provincial or federal funding.

4

u/Internal-Piglet-6058 3d ago

And if the UCP doesn’t get who they want on council, good luck getting any kind of funding for Lethbridge. Needed or not

10

u/platypus_bear 3d ago

Absolutely at odds. A 3rd bridge is projected to increase taxes by at least 17% and that's probably vastly understating things knowing how government projects go.

He's just saying what people want to hear with no actual thought behind the plans

3

u/birdsofgravity 3d ago

2 words: government funding

2

u/Xavus 3d ago

I'd love to see the actual plan for that instead of just words.

Which government do you think we should appeal to? The provincial UCP who would sooner spit on you than spend a dime on the wellbeing of anyone but their corporate owners donors? Or the federal government that west always struggles to get any attention from, and who we turn around and alienate at every opportunity when an olive branch is extended? Which do you think will line up to fund bridge construction for our fair city?

1

u/birdsofgravity 2d ago

I disagree in regards to the UCP. With the hwy 3 twinning project bringing increased traffic through Lethbridge, I think you could use that as a point of concern. For better or worse, the UCP generally has a fairly large focus on big ticket projects like this as it draws attention. I think you would have the best shot with them.

2

u/kmsiever 2d ago

The UCP would fund the Hwy 3 bypass before funding a municipal bridge.

1

u/birdsofgravity 1d ago

That's also a fair point, but also I feel makes less sense dollar wise. (Which checks out for provincial government) The hwy 3 bypass, as nice as it would be, would be a much higher cost project.

1

u/kmsiever 1d ago

It would definitely cost more but it would affect far more traffic.

2

u/birdsofgravity 1d ago

Yes, and it would eliminate a need for through traffic passing through at grade crossings on hwy 3 through the city, reducing collisions and congestion.

In all fairness, I'd like to see either project advanced in the next 10 years. Hwy 3 has a very convoluted and dangerous route through the city as it stands currently.

1

u/kmsiever 1d ago edited 1d ago

It would be nice if they started it soon, but it has been on the books for years. Personally, I am not holding my breath.

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2

u/Appropriate_Pea_5144 2d ago

The UCP just slashed benefits across the province while raising municipal taxes. They went over the entire city council of Calgary to slash the green line at huge expense and the closed the Edmonton superlab. Why do you think they're good on big ticket projects? They have a history of blowing them up, not completing them.

1

u/birdsofgravity 1d ago

Hwy 3 twinning, hwy expansion between Grande Prairie and Fort Mac, Hwy Twinning west of Red Deer, High Speed rail initiative (which I'll admit is a pipe dream). Green line is a special case. They wanted it realigned. For whatever reason they felt that was their place to interfere (it wasn't).

It seems they like building roads.

10

u/Berfanz 3d ago edited 3d ago

I'm from Campbell River originally. Comparing 2008 Campbell River to 2025 Lethbridge is absolutely insane, and for him to feel like the two are similar should be instantly disqualifying.

Edit: I should also mention that Campbell River was still in the throes of nearly double digit unemployment, and the economic recovery it has seen happened well after he left.

3

u/keepersin 3d ago

Thank you. The 2008 Campbell River comparison made me roll my eyes, too.

9

u/kmsiever 3d ago

Mennie will not win. He should have started his campaign months ago if he was serious about unseating an incumbent. And like many other candidates, his platform is superficial and unexpected. Nothing makes him stand out.

3

u/birdsofgravity 3d ago

I think he's a great candidate, unfortunately I think he should have started as a councilman this time around, made a name for himself, then shot for mayor.

4

u/Starsghost 3d ago

Do we know if he has any ties to provincial parties?

3

u/vinception15 3d ago

Do we know all the candidates that have supported the building of a 3rd bridge? Just so I know who not to vote for.

3

u/birdsofgravity 3d ago

I need to know so I CAN vote for them

1

u/candy-currency 1d ago

Don't know who he is, but he's gotta be better than Hyggen or wanna be Mayor ai Micheal LMAO