Atlantic Canadian Politics Thread

[adamuptownsj]

Originally Posted by CharlotteCountyLogan

Looking at the candidate list for the election it looks like Greg Norton and John Mackenzie are running for re-election to council in Saint John. Also running are 2024 PC candidates Paul Dempsey and Adam Smith. And a few others in Eric Savoie, Ryan Moore and Mohammed Elazab. For mayor so far it's Barry Ogden and Blaine Harris.

Reardon and Lowe, AFAIK, confirmed they were running for reelection. There's close to three weeks, plenty of time for people to get a couple dozen signatures and file papers. I wonder if we'll exceed the ballot length of 2021.

[EnvisionSaintJohn]

Originally Posted by adamuptownsj

Reardon and Lowe, AFAIK, confirmed they were running for reelection. There's close to three weeks, plenty of time for people to get a couple dozen signatures and file papers. I wonder if we'll exceed the ballot length of 2021.

Who’d be your dream mayoral candidate, Adam?

I really hope we see an inspiring candidate emerge, but I’m not holding my breath.

[adamuptownsj]

Looks like a lot of people submitted paperwork over this week. There's officially a race for every seat except at-large. Everyone who said they'd file for reelection has, excluding Lowe.

Mayor:
Blaine Robert Harris
Barry Keith Ogden
Donna Reardon*

Councillor at Large:
H. Gary Sullivan*

Councillor Ward 1:
Philip (Smoothy) Armstrong
Greg Norton*
Adam Smith
Joe Vautour

Councillor Ward 2:
Mohamed Elazab
John Colin MacKenzie*
Donald Walton
Brian Wyatt

Councillor Ward 3:
Andrew Miller
Ryan Moore
Eric Savoie
Arty Watson

Councillor Ward 4:
Phil Comeau
Paul Dempsey
David James Merrithew

[darkharbour]

I think Paula Radwan announced she will be seeking reelection too.

Sow with just her and Donna, looks like very few women have offered for the position thus far, which is awfully disappointing.

[adamuptownsj]

Additional candidates filed; see names in blue below. No surprise re: Darling, but the return of Blake Armstrong is... fascinating.

Mayor:
Blaine Robert Harris
Barry Keith Ogden
Donna Reardon*

Councillor at Large:
H. Gary Sullivan*

Councillor Ward 1:
Blake Armstrong
Philip (Smoothy) Armstrong
Greg Norton*
Adam Smith
Joe Vautour

Councillor Ward 2:
Mohamed Elazab
John Colin MacKenzie*
Donald Walton
Brian Wyatt

Councillor Ward 3:
Mariah Darling*
Andrew Miller
Ryan Moore
Eric Savoie
Arty Watson

Councillor Ward 4:
Phil Comeau
Paul Dempsey
David James Merrithew

[bingun]

Only one candidate for the at-large seats so far? It could be a walk in the park if someone else serious puts their name down.

[gtsoc]

Originally Posted by bingun

Only one candidate for the at-large seats so far? It could be a walk in the park if someone else serious puts their name down.

Local realtor Gina Hooley has indicated on social media that she will be running for an at-large seat.

[adamuptownsj]

Three more, that I'm aware of.

• Inc. Paula Radwan (4)
• Russell Wilson (at large or 2)
• Sherri Colwell-McCavour (1), the aforementioned 'Save Lorneville' candidate

Also, Jesse Vergen is running in Quispamsis.

[CharlotteCountyLogan]

Ward 4 could be a good election to watch. The incumbent+ 3 formidable candidates

[EnvisionSaintJohn]

Originally Posted by bingun

Only one candidate for the at-large seats so far? It could be a walk in the park if someone else serious puts their name down.

I believe Bobby Hayes is also running for the at large seat. I believe he was involved with the Joshua Group?

[bingun]

Originally Posted by adamuptownsj

Three more, that I'm aware of.

• Inc. Paula Radwan (4)
• Russell Wilson (at large or 2)
• Sherri Colwell-McCavour (1), the aforementioned 'Save Lorneville' candidate

Also, Jesse Vergen is running in Quispamsis.

The guy from the Ale House lol? Taking inspiration from Paula?

[CharlotteCountyLogan]

I see Gerry irish who ran for the Greens in Saint John East in 2024 is running at-large. Each election in SJ now has at least 2 candidates.

[gtsoc]

Originally Posted by bingun

The guy from the Ale House lol? Taking inspiration from Paula?

It was an April Fool's joke.

[EnvisionSaintJohn]

Originally Posted by CharlotteCountyLogan

I see Gerry irish who ran for the Greens in Saint John East in 2024 is running at-large. Each election in SJ now has at least 2 candidates.

I’m not a big fan of him trying to be a spoiler candidate in the riding Saint John—St. Croix riding in the last election when he doesn’t even live in the riding, or how he successfully Nader’d the Saint John East riding in the last provincial election leading to David Alston losing by 34 votes…

However… I think I’ll actually be voting for him as councilor at large in the upcoming election.

My reasoning is that he is the driving force behind the Champlain Heights outdoor rink, which is the only public outdoor hockey rink in the city with boards. (Not including the Memorial Cup Legacy facility which remains locked up all winter) We need more sensible members on council that care about recreational developments, and don’t hide behind bunk excuses like “the weather is too mild” or “liability risk” when they are pressed to explain why Saint John has no city funded outdoor hockey rinks for residents to use in the winter.

I’d like to think Mr. Irish would be of a similar opinion that the city’s outdoor ice strategy regarding with Lily Lake (requiring 18 inches or more of ice thickness to utilize heavy machinery to clear off a tiny skating area) is a huge waste of resources and funds… or that it would be an incredibly arbitrary and frustrating decision to build another “ball hockey only” outdoor facility at Marketplace West (which would be closed for the winter season) which is what I’ve heard the city is currently looking to do.

IMO, we could do a much better job clearing off an even larger skating surface at Liky Lake each using nothing but shovels and brooms wielded by community volunteers along with some minimal assistance from the city’s public works department using light equipment.

[CharlotteCountyLogan]

In some personal news thought I would share that im running for council in Eastern Charlotte ward 2.

https://www1.gnb.ca/Elections/en/mun26ma...list-e.asp?ELECTIONTOWNID=120TOWNID22974

[EnvisionSaintJohn]

Good luck, Logan!

[EnvisionSaintJohn]

Looks like there’s finally an update on this… and all it took was war with Iran.



https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-brunswick/irving-oil-saudi-crude-supply-9.7150139


• Video Link

[CharlotteCountyLogan]

Good to see that all races are contested in Saint John. Nice to see people engaging with local politics.
Heres all the candidates in SJ:
Mayor (1 to elect)
Blaine Robert Harris
Barry Keith Ogden
Donna Reardon (inc./sort.)
Councillor at Large (2 to elect)
David (Conzie) Connell
Randall Goodwin
Robert (Bobby) Hayes
Gina Hooley
Gerry Irish
H. Gary Sullivan (inc./sort.)
Councillor Ward 1 (2 to elect)
Blake Armstrong
Philip (Smoothy) Armstrong
Sherri Colwell-McCavour
Richard Lee
Greg Norton (inc./sort.)
Suping Shi
Adam Smith
Joe Vautour
Councillor Ward 2 (2 to elect)
Mohamed Elazab
John Colin MACKENZIE
(inc./sort.)
Donald Walton
Brian Wyatt
Councillor Ward 3 (2 to elect)
Mariah Darling
(inc./sort.)
Andrew Miller
Ryan Moore
Eric Savoie
Arty Watson
Councillor Ward 4 (2 to elect)
Phil Comeau
Paul Dempsey
David Merrithew
Paula Radwan (inc./sort.)

[adamuptownsj]

Here's where we are a day before the filing deadline in the three major metros. TL;DR the suburban towns seem pretty content. A lot of uncontested races, especially for incumbent mayors. Only seat with fewer nominees than positions is Oromocto's Ward 2, which has 1/2 candidates.

I kept this to municipalities with ~5,000 or more people.

Metro Fredericton
Fredericton:
Contested: Mayor and every ward except 8
Possible acclamation: Ward 8
No candidates: -

Oromocto
Contested: -
Possible acclamation: Mayor, wards 1, 2 (first seat), 3, and 4
No candidates: Ward 2 (second seat)

Hanwell
Contested: Mayor, wards 1 and 3
Possible acclamation: At-large, wards 2, 4, 5, and 6
No candidates: -

New Maryland
Contested: Mayor and council (at large)
Possible acclamation: -
No candidates: -

Metro Saint John
Saint John:
Contested: All races
Possible acclamation: -
No candidates: -

Quispamsis
Contested: Council (at large)
Possible acclamation: Mayor
No candidates: -

Rothesay
Contested: Council (at large)
Possible acclamation: Mayor
No candidates: -

Hampton
Contested: Council (at large)
Possible acclamation: Mayor
No candidates: -

Grand Bay-Westfield
Contested: Ward 1
Possible acclamation: Mayor, Ward 2
No candidates: -

Metro Moncton
Moncton
Contested: All races
Possible acclamation: -
No candidates: -

Dieppe
Contested: Wards 1 and 5
Possible acclamation: Mayor, at-large, wards 2, 3, 4
No candidates: -

Riverview
Contested: All council races
Possible acclamation: Mayor
No candidates: -

Shediac
Contested: Mayor, wards 1 and 2
Possible acclamation: Wards 3 and 4
No candidates: -

Maple Hills
Contested: At-large, ward 3
Possible acclamation: Mayor, wards 1 and 2
No candidates: -

[Taeolas]

Maybe I'm noticing it more than usual, but the number of signs I see up here in Freddy for both the Wards and the Mayor races is surprising. They're showing up all over the place and it feels like a Provincial or Federal election more than just a municipal one. Hopefully it will mean a decent turnout at the polls.

I haven't looked into who I'll need to be choosing between yet, but I guess I should at least give them a glance through at some point.