Are We Looking At A Re-Count and Municipal By-Election

It could be the middle of next week before the smoke clears on who is the clear winner of Saint John Harbour is between Conservative candidate Carl Killen and Liberal Ed Doherty.


According to officials with Elections NB, the numbers won't be official until Friday and if a candidate is with-in 25 votes of the winner, they can apply for a re-count with-in four days.


If it is less than 25 votes, which it stands at nine in favor of Killen right now, then the re-count is automatic and will happen with-in four days of the numbers being made official.


If Killen is declared the winner, he will have to resign his council seat and a by-election won't happen until May.

Elections NB Happy With The Process

No complaints from the Elections NB Office on how everything played out during last night's vote.
A number of objectives were trying to be reached with new procedures being tested.


Chief Electoral Officer Michael Quinn tells CHSJ News, election officials from around the country were impressed with what they saw and expects they will adopt the set-up.


Quinn says some of the numbers do get hung up as workers at Returning Offices sometimes forget to phone in the results after counting the ballots by hand.

Jack Keir Looks Back On What Was Lost

(Liberal Candidate Fundy River Valley Jack Keir)
                 (File Photo)

Fall-out from the failed NB Power-Hydro Quebec deal along with on-going delays at Point Lepreau appeared to be too much for one man to over-come.



Liberal Jack Keir says he wishes Conservative MLA-Elect Jim Parrot nothing but success.


Keir adds while he is disappointed he has no regrets.

A Look Back At The Race In Saint John East

Not suprised by the final numbers and pleased with how the campaign was run, Saint John East Liberal candidate Kevin McCarville is looking back on how things played out over the past 32 days.
He tells CHSJ News, he isn't sure what his political future holds.
McCarville believes a combination of hatred for the failed NB Power-Hydro Quebec deal and Shawn Graham sealed the party's fate.

Victoria Clarke Plans To Run Again

With a good response at the door, Rothesay Liberal candidate Victoria Clarke is suprised by the final out-come.
As for her political future, Clarke tells CHSJ News, you can expect to hear from her again.


Clarke says she feels that the Liberal party was voted out more than the Conservatives were voted in.

Outgoing M-L-A Says Saint John Benefitted Under The Graham Government

(Saint John Lancaster Liberal Candidate Abel Leblanc)

                    (File Photo)

Abel Leblanc served for two terms as the M-L-A in Saint John Lancaster before losing last night. Leblanc tells CHSJ News the Graham government was good for Saint John.

As for his own record, Leblanc says he's proud of how much money he managed to bring to the riding which was money never brought before.

Leblanc, being somewhat philosophical, says in politics you live by the sword and you die by the sword

Upset In Quispamsis

(Quispamsis Liberal Candidate Mary Schryer)
                (File Photo)

What went wrong?


That is the question on the minds of many Liberal candidates around the Province today.


That includes Mary Schryer in Quispamsis who lost the riding to Conservative MLA-Elect Blaine Higgs.
Schryer tells CHSJ News, she leaves the job with no regrets.
Schryer says in speaking with Blaine Higgs, she wished him all the best and encourages him to get to know his constituents better.

Abel Leblanc Speaks About The Loss

(Saint John Lancaster Liberal Candidate Abel Leblanc)
                   (File Photo)

The outgoing M-L-A in Saint John Lancaster, Abel Leblanc tells CHSJ News he's proud of what he accomplished in the riding and what the Graham government did for Saint John.


Leblanc, who served for two terms, says in politics you live by the sword and you die by the sword.

Ed Doherty Looks Back At The Campaign

(Saint John Harbour Liberal Candidate Ed Doherty)
                    (File Photo)

Liberal Ed Doherty will have to wait a while to see if he has indeed lost in Saint John Harbour.


There will be a recount with Doherty trailing Conservative Carl Killen by just nine votes. Doherty has nothing but praise for Liberal leader Shawn Graham.
Doherty concedes he was taken by surprise at the magnitude of the Conservative landslide.

Former Provincial Cabinet Minister Taken By Surprise At Election Result

(Saint John Harbour Liberal Candidate Ed Doherty)
                  (Photo by Brian McLain)

The final result in Saint John Harbour is still up in the air because there will be a recount. Liberal Ed Doherty is trailing Conservative Carl Killen by 9 votes.

Doherty says he is surprised the Liberals lost so badly.

Doherty, who served in the provincial cabinet, praised Liberal leader Shawn Graham for giving him the latitude to do a number of things in the riding.

Student Vote At KVHS

After hosting a debate during the campaign, a student vote was held at Kennebecasis Valley High School yesterday prior to the Provincial Election numbers being rolled out and the results are very similar.


Just over 83% of the student body cast a ballot with Blaine Higgs capturing 38%, 19% for Matt Doherty, 14% for Mary Schryer and 10% for Mark Woolsey.
Just over 1% of the ballots were spoiled and it's interesting to note, all of these students will be eligible to cast a ballot in the next Provincial Election in 2014.

Routine Maintenance For Irving Oil



















Home-owners in the Woodlawn subdivision in Red Head have some extra traffic this week.
Irving Oil pipelines are being dug up for routine maintenance and inspection.
The company began the work yesterday and sent a letter to homes in the area, letting them know about the extra noise and what they are doing.
Irving officials expect the work will be finished this week and there is no problem with the pipes, this is just scheduled maintenance.

Common Councillor Wins Saint John Harbour

(Saint John Harbour Conservative M-L-A Elect Carl Killen)
                 (Photo By Jim Hennessy)

The closest race of the night was in Saint John Harbour.

It was just after eleven o'clock that Conservative Carl Killen, a member of Common Council, was declared the winner by only nine votes over Liberal Ed Doherty.

Killen tells CHSJ News, he realizes the numbers mean an automatic recount but tells CHSJ News, this is the most interesting and challenging riding in the province because there are so many people who feel despair and a sense of hopelessness.

Killen says his experience in municipal politics is one of the reasons why he decided to run provincially because he found out civic politicians have very little power to change policy when it comes to the big issues.

Longtime M-L-A Holds On To Rothesay

(Rothesay Conservative M-L-A Elect Margaret Ann Blaney)
                    (Photo By Jim Hennessy)

For a fourth straight term.... Conservative Margaret Ann Blaney is the M-L-A for the riding of Rothesay.

Blaney defeated Liberal Victoria Clarke and says the feeling was good among all the Conservative candidates.

The two issues she kept hearing at the door is the dislike for Shawn Graham and rising property taxes which the party has a plan to combat.

As a former cabinet minister, Blaney was asked if there is a chance she will be asked to take on another portfolio which she says is up to Premier Elect David Alward.

Irving Oil Executive Takes Riding Of Quispamsis

(Quispamsis Conservative M-L-A Elect Blaine Higgs)
                     (File Photo)

Conservative Blaine Higgs is the new M-L-A for the riding of Quispamsis.

In what has to be considered one of the upsets of the night, he defeated Liberal Mary Schryer and tells CHSJ News one of the issues he hopes to tackle is the Province's growing debt.

Higgs says he was greeted with a lot of resentment towards Shawn Graham and the Liberals, while going door to door, including the failed NB Power-Hydro Quebec deal.

Saint John Fundy Goes Conservative With Newcomer Defeating High School Principal

For the first time since M-P Rodney Weston held the riding, Saint John Fundy is flying the Conservative banner again.

Glen Savoie beat Liberal Gary Keating, the principal at Simonds High, and tells CHSJ News, while going door to door, he was hearing a lot of discontent from people who wanted their voices heard.

As a newcomer to the political scene, Savoie says he expects a lot of hard work and wants voters to let him know what they want for the riding.

Renowned Heart Surgeon Defeats Liberal Cabinet Minister In Fundy-River Valley

In one of the biggest upsets of the campaign, A Conservative doctor has defeated an incumbant Liberal cabinet minister.

Dr. Jim Parrott defeated former Energy minister Jack Keir in Fundy- River Valley by a sizeable margin.

Dr. Parrott, a renowned heart surgeon, tells CHSJ News, the support was incredible especially since he was out of commission with a foot injury and couldn't really campaign door to door.
 
The new M-L-A will recuperating at home for 3-4 weeks after a foot injury.

Two Time Liberal Incumbant Defeated In Saint John Lancaster

(Saint John Lancaster Conservative M-L-A Elect Dorothy Shepherd)
                        (Photo by Brian McLain)

A West side business owner is responsible for another of the city's biggest upsets.

Dorothy Shepherd beat longtime Liberal M-L-A Abel Leblanc, who had won two consecutive terms, to win Saint John Lancaster for the conservatives.

Shepherd tells CHSJ News it's an exciting victory. Shepherd is thrilled with a conservative majority saying she found a lot of voters were undecided at the door with the big concern being property assessments.

One of her priorities is to increase use of the Lorneville Industrial Park.

Former Provincial Cabinet Minister Easily Re-Elected In Saint John Portland

(Saint John Portland Conservative M-L-A Elect Trevor Holder)
                           (File Folder)

The MLA for Saint John Portland is returning to the Legislature but this time he will be on the government side.

Trevor Holder defeating Liberal Dan Joyce to keep the riding for the Conservatives.

Holder tells CHSJ News he is looking forward to being on the government side again having served as a cabinet minister under then Premier Bernard Lord.

Holder goes on to say he feels good because he thinks the win is about building a better community and being on the government side is a better place to accomplish that.

He believes voters want a government that is focused on health care, poverty reduction, education and the provincial debt.

Conservatives Reclaim Saint John East With A Familiar Name

(Saint John East Conservative M-L-A Elect Glen Tait)
                  (File Photo)

A former fire chief and Common Councillor is now a newly elected Conservative M-L-A.

Glen Tait won the seat last night formerly held by Liberal Roly McIntrye.

He tells CHSJ News it will be new for him setting provincial policy.

Tait says going door to door he kept hearing of the desire for change with anger being voiced about Shawn Graham.
 
 Tait decided to run provincially after coming to the conclusion city councillors really don't have all that much clout when it's all said and done.

Longtime M-L-A Easily Re-Elected In Hampton-Kings

Longtime M-L-A Bev Harrison, described by some as an icon, was the first Conservative elected in last night's election.

Harrison tells CHSJ News this is his biggest win in the riding of Hampton-Kings in six or seven elections.
 
Harrison adds he thinks David Alward will make an excellent premier because he has a style that is consultative.

Saint John Harbour Goes Down To The Wire

(Saint John Harbour MLA-Elect Carl Killen)
         (Photo By Jim Hennessy)

For the time being, Conservative Carl Killen is the MLA-Elect for Saint John Harbour, beating Liberal Ed Doherty by nine votes.
The margin of victory means there is an automatic re-count. Killen tells CHSJ News, his exposure to municipal politics is one of the reasons for his decision to make the leap provincially realizing you do have very little power to change policy at the municipal level.


Killen says Saint John Harbour is the most interesting, challenging riding in the Province with great candidates and a wide demographic. No word yet from Elections NB as to the process for the re-count.

Saint John Fundy Has A New Face

(Glen Savoie Surrounded By Supporters)
        (Photo By Jim Hennessy)

The Conservative banner is flying again in Saint John Fundy.


Glen Savoie beat Liberal Gary Keating to re-claim the seat which hasn't been blue since Saint John MP Rodney Weston held it.
Savoie tells CHSJ News, as a new-comer to the political scene, he is expecting a lot of hard work.
Savoie says while going door to door, he was hearing a lot of discontent and people that wanted their voices heard.

Blaney Grabs Her Fourth Term

 (MLA-Elect Margaret Ann Blaney)
      (Photo By Jim Hennessy)

The riding of Rothesay has re-elected Conservative Margaret Ann Blaney for a fourth consecutive term.
Blaney defeated Liberal Victoria Clarke and says one of the issues she kept hearing at the door is rising property taxes.


Blaney says there are some good models out there the party will look at and bring the issue of property taxes it into the 21st century.

Upset In Quispamsis

(MLA-Elect Blaine Higgs And Wife Celebrate)
           (Photo By Jim Hennessy)

In what has to be considered one of the upsets from last night, Conservative Blaine Higgs beat Liberal Mary Schryer to take the riding in Quispamsis.
Higgs says he was greeted with a lot of resentment for Shawn Graham and the Liberals while going door to door including the failed NB Power-Hydro Quebec deal.
Giving all of the credit for his win to the campaign team, Higgs says he is ready to hit the ground running and wants to tackle the issue of the Province's rising debt right away.