Another doughnut vote in Hamilton?

Fred Eisenberger won big in Hamilton’s mayoral election — but poll-by-poll results suggest he has work to do to overcome the city’s lingering urban-suburban divide.

The city’s first repeat mayor since amalgamation won 54 per cent of the vote Monday compared to 38 per cent for anti-LRT challenger Vito Sgro.

Detailed voting results released Thursday show Eisenberger dominated the old city and won many polls in urban areas of Stoney Creek, Ancaster and Dundas.

By contrast, the map of polls won by Sgro resembles a doughnut ring of suburban-rural Hamilton, with lopsided poll victories in Waterdown and Flamborough. He also won a majority of polls in Glanbrook, upper Stoney Creek and some in rural Ancaster.

McMaster University political scientist Henry Jacek said the results show Eisenberger has support city-wide, but added the poll-by-poll voting doughnut suggests he “will have to work harder” to earn the trust of rural and suburban residents who feel “left out” of the greater city.

Eisenberger pledged Thursday to let those residents know “they are not ignored” — but also argued his challenger and other candidates spread “misinformation” about city investments in amalgamated communities.

Sgro’s campaign focused on stopping the $1-billion, 14-kilometre LRT line planned in the lower city. But he also criticized the incumbent’s commitment to Waterdown, pointing to council’s refusal to appeal a tribunal decision that axed rural Ward 14. Sgro said this week he expected to do well in those areas — especially after a “significant” endorsement from Flamborough Coun. Robert Pasuta.

Jacek argued the results still represent an improvement over past divisive election results chalked up to amalgamation angst, pointing to Eisenberger’s success in urban areas outside the old city.

Eisenberger said he was “heartened” by winning polls — sometimes narrowly — in urban parts of Stoney Creek, where a majority of council contenders campaigned against LRT. He also won all but two polls on the Mountain, where two re-elected ward councillors publicly expressed concerns about the project.

“That doesn’t mean everyone who voted for Fred is in love with LRT,” said Jacek. “But it suggests to me not as many people are hostile toward it as the diehard opponents would have you believe.”