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Thursday, June 10, 2010

New Party Speaks To Voter Frustrations










(Political Scientist Don Desserud of U-N-B Saint John)
                                 (File Photo)

The leader of the newest political party in the province is confident of winning seats in the September 27th election. Kris Austin, a 31 year old minister, leads the Peoples' Alliance of New Brunswick and tells CHSJ News there's an angry mood out there, in large part, because of the failed NB Power deal with Hydro Quebec. Auston believes voters are fed up with a political system they view as being broken. Austin says he would like the party to run candidates in all 55 ridings, if possible.
Meantime, the party could have an impact on the fall election according to University political scientist Don Desserud of NB Saint John who tells CHSJ News it speaks to a large percentage of voters who feel their interests are not being served and they are not being listened to.
While Desserud admires the party's pledge to hold free votes in the legislature, he is not sure that will work since politics is a team sport and politicians want to vote for their own team.