1990-2017 City Councils

The first St. John's Municipal Council was elected in 1888 but it was not until 1902 that the residents of St. John's elected it's first Mayor.

Below is a running list of Councils and some of its activities for the period 1990 to 2013.

Nov. 13, 1990  General Election
Feb. 25, 1992  By-Election
Nov. 24, 1992  By-Election
Nov. 9, 1993  General Election
Sept. 30, 1997  General Election
Sept. 25, 2001  General Election
Nov. 27, 2001 By-Election
Sept. 27, 2005  General Election
June 3, 2008  By-Election
Council June 9, 2008 to Sept. 2009
Sept. 29, 2009 General Election
Sept. 24, 2013 General Election
Sept. 26, 2017 General Election

Nov. 13, 1990  General Election
Mayor: Suzanne Duff
Deputy Mayor: Andrew Wells

Councillors at Large: 
Dorothy Wyatt
Raymond O'Neill
Basil Jamieson

Ward 1: Wendy Williams
Ward 2: Douglas Atkinson
Ward 3: John Whalen
Ward 4: Gerard Colbert

Feb. 25, 1992  By-election - Wards 5 and 6
Ward 5: Paul J. Reynolds
Ward 6: John Dinn

Wards 5 and 6 were added after the Towns of Wedgewood Park and the Goulds amalgamated with St. John's.

Sept. 28, 1992  Councillor Douglas Atkinson resigns - Ward 2.

Nov. 24, 1992  By-Election
Ward 2  Bruce Tilley elected.

Dec. 7, 1992  Bruce Tilley sworn in

Nov. 9, 1993  General Election
Mayor: John J. Murphy
Deputy Mayor: Andrew Wells
 
Councillors at Large:
Dorothy Wyatt
Jeffrey Brace
Marie White
Ray O'Neill

Ward 1:  Sean Hanrahan
Ward 2:  Shawn Skinner
Ward 3:  Keith Coombs
Ward 4:  Gerry Colbert
Ward 5:  John Dinn

Sept. 30, 1997  General Election
Mayor: Andrew Wells
Deputy Mayor: Marie White

Councillors-at-Large:
Peter Miller
Shannie Duff
Dennis O’Keefe
Dorothy Wyatt

Ward 1:  Sean Hanrahan
Ward 2:  Frank Galgay
Ward 3:  Keith Coombs
Ward 4:  Gerry Colbert
Ward 5:  John Dinn

Oct. 14, 1997 Council sworn in. Deputy Mayor Marie White sworn in as Acting Mayor due to a recount of the Mayor’s vote.

Oct. 31, 1997 Andy Wells sworn in as Mayor.

Sept. 23, 2001 Dorothy Wyatt died.

Sept. 25, 2001  General Election
Mayor: Andy Wells
Deputy Mayor: Gerry Colbert

Councillors at Large:
Dennis O’Keefe
Shannie Duff
Paul Sears
Dorothy Wyatt [elected after her death]

Ward 1: Art Puddister
Ward 2: Frank Galgay
Ward 3: Keith Coombs
Ward 4: Kevin Breen
Ward 5: John Dinn

Dorothy Wyatt was the first candidate to be elected posthumously resulting in a by-election to be held later in the year.

Oct. 9, 2001 Council Swearing In Ceremonies

Nov. 27, 2001 By-Election 
Sandy Hickman elected, Councillor at Large.

Dec. 3, 2001 Sandy Hickman sworn in

Sept.27, 2005 General Election
Mayor: Andy Wells
Deputy Mayor: Dennis O’Keefe

Councillors at Large:
Gerry Colbert
Shannie Duff
Tom Hann
Sandy Hickman

Ward 1: Art Puddister
Ward 2: Frank Galgay
Ward 3: Keith Coombs
Ward 4: Ron Ellsworth
Ward 5: Wally Collins

Oct. 11, 2005 New Council sworn in.

March 3, 2008 Mayor Andy Wells resigns to take position as Chairperson of the Public Utilities Board.

March 3, 2008 to April 18, 2008 Deputy Mayor Dennis O’Keefe assumes the role of Acting Mayor.

April 18, 2008 Deputy Mayor Dennis O’Keefe and Ward 4 Councillor Ron Ellsworth resign to run in the June 3, 2008 By-Election.

April 18, 2008 to June 9, 2008 Councillor Shannie Duff assumes the role of Acting Mayor.

June 3, 2008 By-Election
Dennis O’Keefe elected Mayor
Ron Ellsworth elected Deputy Mayor
Debbie Hanlon elected Ward 4 Councillor

June 9, 2008 Swearing in ceremonies for newly elected Council Members

Council June 9, 2008 to Sept. 2009
Mayor: Dennis O’Keefe
Deputy Mayor:  Ron Ellsworth

Councillors at Large:
Gerry Colbert
Shannie Duff
Tom Hann
Sandy Hickman

Ward 1: Art Puddister
Ward 2: Frank Galgay
Ward 3: Keith Coombs
Ward 4: Debbie Hanlon
Ward 5: Wally Collins

Sept. 29, 2009 General Election
Mayor:  Dennis O’Keefe
Deputy Mayor:  Shannie Duff

Councillors at Large:
Gerry Colbert
Tom Hann
Sandy Hickman
Sheilagh O’Leary

Ward 1:  Danny Breen
Ward 2:  Frank Galgay
Ward 3:  Bruce Tilley
Ward 4:  Debbie Hanlon
Ward 5:  Wally Collins

Oct. 13, 2009 New Council sworn in.

General Election Sept. 24, 2013

Mayor: Dennis O’Keefe
Deputy Mayor: Ron Ellsworth

Councillors at Large:
Tom Hann
Sandy Hickman
Dave Lane
Art Puddister

Ward 1: Danny Breen
Ward 2: Jonathan Galgay
Ward 3: Bruce Tilley
Ward 4: Bernard Davis
Ward 5: Wally Collins

Oct. 7, 2013 New Council sworn in.

Sept. 26, 2017 General Election

Mayor:  Danny Breen
Deputy Mayor:  Sheilagh O’Leary
 
Councillors at Large:
Maggie Burton
Dave Lane
Sandy Hickman
Debbie Hanlon
 
Ward 1:  Deanne Stapleton
Ward 2:  Hope Jamieson
Ward 3:  Jamie Korab
Ward 4:  Ian Froude
Ward 5:  Wally Collins
 
October 10, 2017  New Council sworn in.