Rishi Sharma has been elected mayor of Saanich, British Columbia, after voters delivered a major change in the municipal election and rejected a proposal to merge the district with neighbouring Victoria. This win is significant foe Saanich as Rishi Sharma defeated two sitting councillors to become the district’s next leader, according to news outlet Victoria Buzz. Rishi Sharma received 17,157 votes, or 45.31% of the total, defeating sitting councillor Zac de Vries, who secured 14,785 votes, or 39.05%. Karen Harper received 5,299 votes, while Robin Morton Stanbridge finished with 624 votes, according to preliminary results released by the District of Saanich on October 18.
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