Byelections see Mariah Darling win as Saint John councillor, Roméo Bourque as Beausoleil mayor

Ten municipal byelections came to a close Monday night, with 5,680 ballots cast across the province, according to Elections New Brunswick's unofficial results.

That's a voter turnout of 15.6 per cent, the website says. 

The byelection with the most candidates was for Ward 3 councillor in Saint John — a role formerly held by David Hickey, who is now the provincial minister responsible for housing.

Mariah Darling, who recently ran in the provincial election as a Green Party candidate, came out on top with 375 votes, winning against 10 other candidates.

Darling, whose father Don Darling previously served as Saint John mayor, said going into election night, they knew the results were going to be tight.

"I'm very much a math person, so it was a little bit nerve wracking," said Darling.

They said one of the major goals they would like to accomplish in their new role is strengthening the relationship between city council and Ward 3.

Darling said they learned from canvasing door to door that public safety and housing are two important issues for residents. 

"It's important that even at the municipal level, we are, you know, not only advocating for better policy for our constituents, but making sure the reality of our neighbourhoods is injected in those policies," said Darling, "so we're not just making policy, we're making policy that reaches the New Brunswickers and the Saint Johners that need it most."

Darling's online campaign website says they are queer and trans, they were born and raised in the west side of Saint John and now living in the southern peninsula. They have a bachelor of science degree from the University of New Brunswick and currently serve as the education co-ordinator for a 2SLGBTQ+ non-profit called Chroma N.B.

Residents in the amalgamated community of Beausoleil, which encompassed Cocagne, went to the polls to elect their next mayor, after Jean Hébert resigned fromthe that position over a controversial bylaw requiring a phase-in of bilingual signs that would give French top billing.

After two months of public turmoil, Hébert said he couldn't see a way to move forward on the issue in a positive way.

The winning candidate in that municipality was Roméo J. Bourque, with 890 votes.

Bourque told Radio-Canada on Tuesday that he consulted other mayors on the controversial sign topic, including the mayor of Memramcook, where he said a clause prevents businesses from changing their current signs and only new signs need to be bilingual.

He said he plans to bring the bylaw back and make changes so it's acceptable for everyone. 

Matthew Standish was the winner of the Ward 2 councillor position in Sunbury-York South, another municipality that has faced recent controversy. 

Opposition erupted to a move by council in the amalgamated community, south of Fredericton, to ask the Municipal Capital Borrowing Board, a provincial government entity, for pre-approval to borrow up to $8 million for a planned municipal building.

The other winning candidates across the province are as follows:

• Dawn Hickey won the councillor at large seat in Belledune.

• Donald Bastarache won the Ward 3 councillor position in Champdoré.

• Carl R. Price won the councillor at large seat in Doaktown.

• Tom Raithby won the Ward 1 councillor spot in Funday-St. Martins.

• Jarred Dooley was elected by acclamation as Ward 5 councillor in Hanwell.

• Michael Haché won the councillor at large seat in Hautes-Terres.

• Gary N. Grant was elected by acclamation as Ward 4 councillor in Lakeland Ridges.

• Richard Blackstock was elected by acclamation as Ward 1 councillor in Riverview.

• John Steeves was elected by acclamation as Ward 3 councillor in Shediac.

• Andrew (Andy) MacGregor won the councillor at large spot in Strait Shores.

• Mary-Francis (Fran) Keirstead won the Ward 4 councillor position in Valley Waters.