Mayor Marion Dewar defeated former alderman Pat Nicol in a re-match of the 1978 race.

This is the first election in 70 years without the Ottawa Board of Control, as it had been abolished.

Marion Dewar swept the city in her re-election, winning all but one ward.

Her only loss was in Elmdale, which Nicol won narrowly by 43 votes.

Nicol represented Elmdale on city council.