Stew Young makes stunning comeback as Langford voters oust mayor and council

In one of the biggest political stories of Greater Victoria’s municipal election, Stew Young has been elected mayor of Langford, defeating incumbent Scott Goodmanson and reclaiming the position he held for nearly 30 years.

Young received 9,801 votes (64.4%), compared to Goodmanson’s 5,411 votes (35.6%), a difference of 4,390 votes.

The victory marks a remarkable comeback for Young, who served as Langford’s first mayor from 1993 until his defeat in 2022.

Four years ago, Goodmanson ended Young’s nearly three-decade run as mayor, defeating him by just 687 votes in an election that dramatically changed the city’s political landscape.

Now, the tables have turned.

Young returns to city hall with a significantly larger margin of victory, while Goodmanson’s time as mayor comes to an end after one term.

But the changes don’t stop at the mayor’s office. Langford voters have also elected five new councillors, leaving just one incumbent returning to the council table.

Of the 16 candidates competing for six council seats, the following were elected:

• Lisa Foxall — 8,574 votes (new)
• Wendy Hobbs — 7,720 votes (new)
• Bryson Hill — 7,533 votes (new)
• Jennifer Dunnett — 7,117 votes (new)
• Brandy Gordon — 6,600 votes (new)
• Colby Harder — 6,082 votes (re-elected)

Foxall topped the council race, receiving more than 8,500 votes. Hobbs, meanwhile, is making a return to the municipal election spotlight after an unsuccessful council bid in 2022.

Harder, who finished first in the 2022 council election, is the only incumbent to retain a seat. Three other sitting councillors who sought re-election were defeated.

Mary Wagner finished seventh with 5,981 votes, narrowly missing the final council seat by just 101 votes.

Keith Yacucha received 5,513 votes, while Kimberley Guiry finished with 5,033 votes.

The results represent another major political shift for Langford.

In 2022, voters ended Young’s lengthy tenure and elected a council largely made up of newcomers who campaigned on greater transparency, public engagement and a different approach to managing growth.

This time, voters have returned Young to the mayor’s chair while replacing most of the council elected four years earlier.

Young’s original time in office saw Langford transform from a relatively small community into one of the fastest-growing municipalities in Greater Victoria, with significant residential development, commercial expansion and new recreational facilities.

His return comes as the city continues to face questions about housing affordability, infrastructure, development, taxation and how to manage its rapid growth.

Young and the newly elected council will now be tasked with guiding Langford through the next four years.

The results are preliminary and remain subject to official confirmation.