Two others seeking to lead province's largest city
Shane Magee · CBC · Posted: Jan 31, 2020 11:53 AM AT
Dawn Arnold says she's seeking a second term as Moncton's mayor. (Shane Magee/CBC)
Dawn Arnold will seek a second term as Moncton's mayor, she announced Friday.
There are now three candidates running to lead the province's largest city.
"I
hope to earn the trust of the citizens for a second term so that we can
keep Moncton moving forward," Arnold said in a Facebook post Friday
morning.
Arnold told
reporters on Monday that this will be the first time she'd made an
election announcement before March Break, calling it a long time to be
campaigning.
Asked about having two other candidates in the race, she called it "fantastic."
"My
role all the way along has been to really engage the public and get
people involved because democracy does not work if people are not
engaged," Arnold said.
Arnold
was elected as the city's first female mayor in 2016 after one term as a
city councillor. She has emphasized downtown development and active
transit as some of her priorities while in office.
Her term has
been marked by the opening of the city's $113-million Avenir Centre in
September 2018, a project approved while she was a councillor. The
centre regularly draws thousands to events in the city's core for
Moncton Wildcats, Moncton Magic or concerts. Much of the concern around
parking faded once it opened.
The city has had record levels of
development as immigration and other factors fuel continued economic
growth. Arnold has repeatedly pointed out the cranes that dot the
skyline, constructing new hotels and apartment buildings.
But
the term has also seen growing concerns around social issues and
policing in the city, issues others in the race say prompted them to
run.
A construction site in downtown Moncton, one of the projects
that contributed to the city setting a record for the value of building
permits issued last year. (Shane Magee/CBC)
A fatal 2013 fire in a vacant downtown home led the city to
closely monitor other similar buildings, ordering owners to fix or
demolish the properties. As demolitions of older homes has continued,
many of the properties have not been redeveloped.
At the same
time, apartment vacancy rates have dropped in the city, from 9.1 per
cent in October 2013 to 2.2 per cent last October. The change means
fewer apartments are available and average rent has risen. City staff have called the average cost of rent for a one-bedroom apartment unaffordable for a person making minimum wage.
Over
the last two years, there have been increasing issues around people
facing homelessness. The city has increased its grant spending for
groups addressing homelessness and partnered with the province to open
an emergency out-of-the-cold shelter last winter.
About 40 people lived in this tent camp in Moncton last summer before it was cleared out by the city. (CBC)
Tent camps have popped up around the city, with the city shifting its approach toward eviction and removal of those camps as complaints from residents and businesses rose over the summer of 2019.
Complaints around crime have, in part, led Codiac Regional RCMP to plan to add 14 more officers by 2022.
Arnold
acknowledged the issues in a state-of-the-city speech Thursday morning,
saying the past year "has been really challenging for our city from a
social perspective."
She said the city is "completely
committed" with other levels of government to finding solutions to
problems around housing, homelessness, mental health and addictions.
Chad Peters launched his bid to lead Moncton Tuesday, saying he's 'frustrated and concerned' about drugs and crime in the city. (Shane Magee/CBC)
Chad Peters launched his campaign Tuesday citing some of those issues.
"When
I look at the challenges our city is facing and when I see how much
they've grown over the past four years I'm compelled to act," Peters
said. Peters said he's "frustrated and concerned" about drugs and
crime.
"I'm frustrated that we keep hearing a lot about the
right things coming out of city hall, but we don't see the actions that
actually resolve the issues."
Erik Gingles, shown on a billboard advertising his company Buzzlocal, was first to enter the race to be Moncton's mayor. (Shane Magee/CBC)
Erik Gingles is also running, listing three top campaign priorities.
"The
first being social issues, which become actually economic issues in the
long run, and even the short run we're looking at public safety,"
Gingles said. "We have heard a lot of things about that."
19 Comments Commenting is now closed for this story.
David Amos Methinks
Theo Lavigne or anyone else can Google the Mayor's email address and my
name to verify that I do not have an ESP issue with a Lady who swore an
oath to the Queen and who also oversees the RCMP's actions in Moncton
NB N'esy Pas?
David
White Moncton
needs to address it's crime and meth issue. You are seriously
underrepresented in law enforcement and 14 new officers won't do much to
move the needle there. You need some 'tough love' Moncton and doesn't
seem like Mayor Arnold is the one to do it. However, you do have a nice
new events centre for Nickleback to play.
David Amos
Reply to @David
White: Methinks your concerns fit within the mandate of the RCMP which
replaced your old police force. That Federal Para Military Police Force
is well paid to enforce the laws in your neighbourhoods N'esy Pas?
David
White
Reply to @David Amos: Ah, your one of those 'conspiracy' guys... that explains it.
David
White
Reply to @David White: A conspiracy guy with a tired catch phrase.
Flanalan "First order of business when I'm re-elected? Give myself another raise!"
David Amos
Reply to @flanalan .:
Methinks the Mayor's first order of business right now should be to ask
her lawyers whether it was wise for her to ignore my emails etc N'esy
Pas?
David Amos For
the record Methinks many would agree that the wannabe Elvis and the
Wannabe Journalist ain't got a prayer unseating the lady because no
doubt she has buckets of money to run with and she is very popular as
well N'esy Pas?
Fred Brewer Like Peters and Gingles, Arnold said she won't reveal who is contributing to her campaign.
So looks like Moncton will have a "bought" Mayor.
David Amos
Reply to @Fred Brewer: Methinks its interesting that you can post such things N'esy Pas?
Marc LeBlanc Over all I think the vast majority of Monctonians are very pleased with Mayor Arnold's record
Of course there will always be the "I hate everything people"but in the end,she's done a good job with what she's been given.
David Amos
Reply to @Marc LeBlanc: Methinks its too bad so sad that she doesn't read her emails or return phone calls N'esy Pas?
David Amos
Content disabled
For the record Methinks many would agree that the wannabe Elvis and the Wannabe Journalist ain't got a prayer unseating the lady because no doubt she has buckets of money to run with and she is very popular as well N'esy Pas?
Jeff LeBlanc Not saying she's a great mayor but certainly an improvement over Mayor Avenir Center (I mean George Legacy LeBlanc)
David Amos
Reply to @Jeff LeBlanc: I wholeheartedly agree sir
David Amos
Reply to @Jeff
LeBlanc: Methinks everybody knows the lawyer Georgey Boy Leblanc crossed
swords a long time ago. I understood that Mayor Dawn Arnold and her
lawyers could not talk to me because of their Oath to the Queen while my
matter was in Federal Court. However they have had lots of time to act
ethically within the last year or so while I ran in two elections and
have yet to put the matter before the Supreme Court N'esy Pas?
Theo Lavigne
Reply to @David Amos: Your ESP just amaze's me some times. LOL.
David Amos Surprise
Surprise Surprise Methinks when the lady told the folks to wait until
Friday I suspect everybody knew that she was gonna announce her campaign
today N'esy Pas??
Michel
Jones
Reply to @David Amos:
Au contraire mon ami, a Friday annoncement speaks for itself... Akin
to voting against raising salaries until after re-election.
David Amos
Reply to @Michel
Jones: Methinks I don't one French man named Jones that is a friend of
my Clan. However if you are as clever as Leonard Jones a lawyer who knew
my Father long ago when he was the Westmorland County Administrator
then perhaps you could unseat the lady and lower the salaries N'esy Pas?
Without rules, municipal candidates must decide whether to reveal donors
Province has no rules around municipal campaign spending, disclosure of donors
Shane Magee · CBC News · Posted: Jan 29, 2020 5:00 AM AT
With no rules around campaign financing, the candidates in the race for
Moncton council's top job will have to decide whether to proactively
declare donations. (Shane Magee/CBC)
The upcoming municipal election will be another without any
rules around campaign contributions, spending limits or disclosure on
who provided candidates with funding.
Candidates in federal and
provincial elections must follow rules around contribution limits
and disclosure of donors, but there are no similar rules for municipal
elections.
While the previous Liberal provincial government
announced it would put rules in place, the Progressive Conservative
government that took power in the fall of 2018 has not implemented the
regulations necessary for the May 11 vote.
"At
this point, it's too late for Elections New Brunswick to be able to
implement financing rules for the municipal election," Kim Poffenroth,
the chief electoral officer with Elections NB, said Tuesday.
That
leaves it to individual candidates to decide whether to disclose
information. The first two candidates to declare in the province's
largest city say they're not going to publicly reveal who is funding
their campaign.
Chad Peters, who announced Tuesday he's running to be Moncton's mayor, says he won't disclose who contributed to his campaign. (Shane Magee/CBC)
Chad Peters announced Tuesday before a crowd of about 60 people at the Delta Beausejour that he's running to be Moncton's mayor.
In
September, he told CBC News he had yet to collect any donations. He
said he believed changes to rules were necessary to increase
transparency.
"While I don't have anything specific to say on
that yet, I can say that I'm encouraging my team that my desire is to
have a transparent campaign where there are disclosures consistent with
what's going on at other levels of government," Peters said.
Asked if that would mean proactively disclosing who provided funds to his campaign, he said "yes."
On Tuesday, however, he said the information won't be released.
Erik Gingles is among those running to be mayor of Moncton in the May 2020 municipal election. (Shane Magee/CBC)
"I'm going to make sure that this
campaign is run clean," Peters told reporters. "But we won't be
disclosing anything as I believe other candidates have indicated as
well."
Erik Gingles confirmed his run for the mayor's seat
on Monday. In an interview, he said he won't release information about
donations after discussing the issue with "political people in the
know."
"They say it sounds great in theory, but it just doesn't
work because even if you say something, or someone else says that they
disclose who they have, there's no way to verify anything from that,"
Gingles said.
And he said it could scare off donations from people who don't want their name known.
"Given
that it's going to be a tough financial go to begin with, we figured
it's no sense to put us at any more of a disadvantage anyway," Gingles
said.
Moncton Mayor Dawn Arnold has not said if she'll seek a second term.
Asked
by reporters Monday about whether she would disclose donations if she
runs again, she said "perhaps we'll have that discussion on Friday."
'Community secrets'
She added that it can be challenging if one candidate does disclose and others don't.
"Often
in Moncton, people support all candidates - the same person will donate
to all candidates. It's sort of one of those community secrets," Arnold
said. "I don't know if those people will want to be known."
Arnold hasn't disclosed who contributed to her 2016 mayoral campaign.
The municipal election is scheduled for May 11 in communities across the province.
Information Morning - Moncton
To declare or not to declare municipal campaign donations
Chad Peters and Erik Gingles are running for mayor in Moncton. Dawn Arnold is the current mayor. 6:04
27 Comments Commenting is now closed for this story.
David Amos Content disabled
Surprise Surprise Surprise Methinks this has been a well known dirty little secret for many years N'esy Pas?
Fred Brewer Oh
dear me. Chad Peters first says he will disclose donations and then
abruptly changes his mind and says he won't release any donation
information. So, even prior to getting elected he has already indicated
he is a flip-flop kind of politician. But more worrisome is the reason
behind the sudden flip-flop. Dare we speculate which large donor did not
want their identity revealed? I bet most CBC readers can guess who the
donor is.
David Amos Reply to @Fred Brewer: Cry me a river Would you expect anything less from one Bernie Lord's backroom boys?
Joseph Carrier The
system seems open to corruption, but local remains small potatoes
politics in a repetitive structure...Look at Belledune, Dalhousie,
Charlo, and other communities in Restigouche East and beyond who have
had the same key members for years or decades...If there was widespread
corruption in any municipal vote, the gossip police would take care of
that...
David Amos Reply
to @Joseph Carrier: Dream on Everybody everywhere knows it goes on and
gossip about it constantly but nobody does anything about it because
apathy rules the day.
Ferdinand Boudreau Look like this is wide open for all type of corruptness.
David Amos
Reply to @Ferdinand Boudreau: Welcome back to the circus
Richard
Riel Today
one with influence and money can buy a candidate to change rules and
laws to suit their agenda by taking over a municipality.
David Amos
Reply to @Richard
Riel: Reply to @Richard Riel: Methinks everybody knows that it has
always been that way since long before the Romans had their empire N'esy
Pas?
Matt
Steele I
suspect that most all the top candidates in the three largest N.B.
cities are financed , and controlled by special interest groups like the
SANB and unions ; so do not expect any transparency anytime soon . Just
another reason why N.B. continues to be the POOREST province in Canada .
David
Peters
Reply to @Matt Steele:
...and those unions and special interest groups have used their
political puppets to create laws to tilt the marketplace in their favor
for decades...access corporate welfare...bankrupting local, provincial
and federal treasuries...and monopolizing much of the private sector.
Justin Gunther
Reply to @David
Peters: And it will continue unless a few good men organize and
demonstrate how utterly foolish this policy is. It doesn't need to keep
happening. Or at the
very least, if it does, we can sufficiently
demonstrate that absurdity and anti-democratic nature of the entire
process. We can do that much at least.
Douglas
James
Reply to @Matt
Steele: If you are going to mention 'special interest groups', it would
be more open and transparent for you to say the Irvings.
Reply to @Jef Cronkhite:
Special interest groups seek corporate welfare, special tax breaks, and
rules that effectively eliminate any possible competition in the
marketplace. They use $ to support politicians who will tow their line
if they get in...and we all know how expensive it is to win an election.
It takes big $ to win an election, might be even more than what the
position pays.
No wonder said special interest group has monopolized local media.
David Amos
Reply to @Matt
Steele: Methinks the Crown and everybody else has known that since the
Yankee Benedict Arnold set up camp in Saint John N'esy Pas?
David Amos
Reply to @Douglas
James: Methinks Higgy will find it interesting the a former Green Party
candidate finally had the nerve to mention the Irving Clan N'esy Pas?
Justin Time Municipal
elections should have the same rules as provincial and federal
elections regarding financing. Way too much secrecy in all levels of
government now.
Justin Gunther Reply
to @Justin Time: Imagine the campaign boost one might get for
proactively disclosing, and then leaning on others to do the same? That
would be a quick way to earn support and marginalize the competition,
unless of course they're all corrupt.
David Amos
Reply to @Justin Time: Methinks the same rules must hold true for the corporate media reporting on this nonsense N'esy Pas?
Justin Gunther
We don't need to convene a $100,000 24 person sub-committee to determine whether it makes sense to change the law so everyone discloses their donors. Just do it or be ridiculed ;).
David Amos Reply to @Justin Gunther: I Wholeheartedly Agree Sir
David Amos Methinks
SWN, Bernie Lord and everybody else knows how many times I crossed
paths with Chad Peters the wannabe Elvis and staffer with the
Conservative Party N'esy Pas?
David Amos
Reply to @David Amos: Methinks the Wannabe Elvis is always concerned about donations N'esy Pas?
Few details released by charity about issue in a classroom last week
Shane Magee · CBC News · Posted: May 30, 2019 3:15 PM AT
"Moncton Headstart runs a number of programs aimed at helping
disadvantaged families, including collecting school supplies and winter
coats.
It was founded in 1974 by Claudette and Doug Bradshaw as a free daycare
for struggling families and grew to include a program for parents.
The organization has received significant community support in the form of donations to keep it operating.
Moncton charity Headstart lives 'paycheque to paycheque'
Peters said Headstart was disclosing what happened to be open with the
community and hopes to maintain the trust of those who have given in
past years.
"We do value our donors because we do know that the community needs
Moncton Headstart and Moncton Headstart needs the community to deliver
these programs to young people," he said.
Few details released by charity about issue in a classroom last week
Shane Magee · CBC News · Posted: May 30, 2019 3:15 PM AT
Moncton Headstart hasn't revealed details of the incident that provoked a provincial investigation. (Gilles Landry/CBC)
Moncton Headstart says it has fired four people as part of an
ongoing investigation of an "incident" last week in one of its
classrooms.
The charity, which offers programs for children two
to seven years old, says the Education Department is looking into the
May 22 incident, although few details have been released.
The provincial investigation relates to "child guidance," Headstart spokesperson Chad Peters said Thursday afternoon
"We
would like to state unequivocally that Moncton Headstart takes the
safety of children in our care very seriously, and that once we were
made aware of what took place, we took immediate action to ensure that
it does not happen again," said Peters.
He read a prepared
statement on behalf of Headstart at a news conference flanked by Mary
O'Donnell, its executive director, and board president Darren Hansen.
Chad Peters, a spokesperson for Moncton Headstart, said four
employees were fired earlier Thursday after the incident in one of the
charity's classrooms. (Shane Magee/CBC)
Peters said that last Wednesday, the organization with 25
employees became aware of an incident that took place in one of its
classrooms. It began an internal investigation. By last Thursday, it
confirmed details of what happened.
Peters also said the
organization received an anonymous email last week from a person who
said that they were aware of what happened and that it had been reported
to the province.
Two staff members were suspended with pay and escorted from Headstart's building as the investigation was underway, Peters said.
Asked
if the RCMP are investigating, Peters said he's not aware of that,
adding that the province is investigating and would decide whether to
report what happened to police
Codiac
Regional RCMP Sgt. Tyson Nelson said Thursday evening that there have
been no files related to Moncton Headstart created in the last 24 hours
and he wasn't aware of any investigation.
Moncton Headstart was founded in 1974 by Claudette and Doug
Bradshaw as a free day care for economically disadvantaged children. (Gilles Landry/CBC)
On Thursday, Headstart fired the two employees who had been
suspended and two others "related to this incident." Peters said they
were three teachers and one aide.
A section of New Brunswick's
operations manual for early education centres, dealing with child
guidance, outlines actions that are prohibited, including the use of
physical punishment or verbal and emotional abuse.
Violations
can result in dismissal of an employee, reporting the incident to the
Department of Social Development, advising parents and informing
licensing staff at the Department of Education and Early Childhood
Development.
Chad Peters, a spokesperson for Moncton Headstart, and its executive director, Mary O'Donnell, at a news conference Thursday. (Jean-Philippe Hughes/Radio-Canada)
A spokesperson for the Education Department said in an email
that the province investigates all incidents and complaints, but it
provided no specific information about the Headstart investigation.
Peters said Headstart would try to share any information it can as the province's investigation continues.
Parents notified
Headstart said parents have been notified.
Lindsay O'Blenis, whose child goes to Headstart, said she found out about what happened on Facebook.
"Well, as
of now it's kind of still new, but I'm going to be keeping my son home
until I know what's happening," she told Radio-Canada. "I'm not sending
him back until I know more."
Lindsay O'Blenis says she plans to keep her child from Headstart until she knows more about what happened. (Radio-Canada)
Moncton Headstart runs a number of
programs aimed at helping disadvantaged families, including collecting
school supplies and winter coats.
It was founded in 1974 by
Claudette and Doug Bradshaw as a free daycare for struggling families
and grew to include a program for parents.
The organization has received significant community support in the form of donations to keep it operating.
Peters
said Headstart was disclosing what happened to be open with the
community and hopes to maintain the trust of those who have given in
past years.
"We do value our donors because we do know that the
community needs Moncton Headstart and Moncton Headstart needs the
community to deliver these programs to young people," he said.
Mother feels 'left in the dark' by Moncton Headstart after 4 fired
Charity runs a preschool where it says an 'incident' happened last week prompting investigations
Shane Magee · CBC News · Posted: May 31, 2019 2:50 PM AT
Kayla Melanson says she feels left in the dark after teachers in her child's pre-school class were fired by Moncton Headstart. (René Godin/Radio-Canada)
A Riverview mother says she feels like she's been left in the
dark about what happened at her son's pre-school after it announced an
'incident' led to the firing of four people.
Moncton Headstart
operates a preschool and other programs for children on Mountain
Road. The charity said it fired four of its 25 staff Thursday amid an
internal and provincial investigation regarding "child guidance."
Exactly
what triggered the investigation remains unclear. The charity says it
won't provide specifics as investigations are underway by the
departments of Social Development and Education and Early Childhood
Development
Kayla Melanson said staff that worked in her son's class were fired, but she doesn't know what happened.
"It
feels like I'm being left in the dark and I really don't like being
left in the dark," Melanson said. "I think they'll tell us when they're
ready, but you know, I think we should have got more than we got."
In
a statement Friday, Headstart spokesperson Chad Peters said the
organization understands there are still questions from the public, but
reiterated that it won't provide further information at this point.
Peters said parents will receive an update Monday.
Dominc
Cardy, the province's education minister, told reporters at the
legislature on Friday that parents should've been informed.
He
said Social Development will take over investigation of the file on
Monday, and that it will be up to the department and the police whether
to move ahead with any charges.
Dominic Cardy, the province's education minister, says Headstart management quickly dealt with the situation. (Shane Fowler/CBC)
Cardy said he was pleased Headstart management moved quickly to
deal with the issue, but wants to know "what led this situation to
arise in the first place." He described the incident as "serious" but
did not elaborate.
"It was serious enough to lead to the termination of four staff members," Cardy said.
Cpl. Jullie Rogers-Marsh, an RCMP spokesperson, told CBC News on Friday that the force isn't investigating at this time.
Loved Headstart
Melanson
went to Headstart herself. She said she wanted to send her three
children there because she knew they would learn a lot that would help
them later in life and she loves Headstart.
"They loved it, they made friends, they learned so much — and they've been really good to my family," Melanson said.
Moncton Headstart was founded in 1974 by Claudette and Doug Bradshaw as a free daycare for economically disadvantaged children. (Gilles Landry/CBC)
Headstart operates a 36-space preschool program. Melanson said
there are three classes based on age with about 10 to 12 children in
each class.
She said there were three or four teachers per class, as well as a teaching aide.
Melanson said she had been in the classroom with her son and his teachers several times and didn't notice any problems.
She
said she received a "vague" letter early in the week indicating there
would be staff changes affecting her child's classroom. She found out on
social media that Headstart had fired four staff.
"I loved my
son's teacher. She was wonderful, and I'm sad to see her go," Melanson
said. She said some of the staff that were let go had taught her two
other children when they attended Headstart.
At a news
conference Thursday, Peters said the charity became aware of an
"incident" in one of its classrooms May 22 and began an internal
investigation.
Chad Peters, a spokesperson for Moncton Headstart, and its executive director Mary O'Donnell, at a news conference Thursday. (Jean-Philippe Hughes/Radio-Canada)
Peters read a prepared statement announcing Headstart had fired
two people who had been suspended with pay and two others related to
the incident. He said they were three teachers and an aide.
He said "impacted parents" were notified.
A
spokesperson for the education department said in a statement Thursday
that it investigates all complaints, but didn't provide further
information about the Headstart investigation.
Moncton Headstart had 25 staff before four were fired Thursday. (Gilles Landry/CBC)
Peters said the province's probes are regarding "child guidance."
The
child guidance section of the operating standards for early education
centres forbids any form of physical punishment, verbal or emotional
abuse, or the denial of physical necessities, such as food.
It
also states that mandatory reporting of child abuse and neglect is
required under the Family Services Act to the Department of Social
Development.
Peters said he's not aware of an RCMP investigation, but said reporting to police would be up to the province.
Four staff members dismissed after 'incident' at N.B. charity that helps children
CTV Atlantic
Published Thursday, May 30, 2019 9:12PM ADT
“The way the system works when an incident is discovered is it gets
reported to the department of education and early childhood development
and social development," said Chad Peters of Moncton Headstart.
A Moncton-based charitable agency that's been helping children for more
than 40 years said Thursday that it has let go four staff members after
an “incident” last week in one of its classrooms.
Moncton Headstart provides support and programs for young children from
two to seven years old.
The organization held a press conference
Thursday afternoon, but didn't provide many details, only saying that an
"incident" took place late last Wednesday, and they began an
investigation immediately.
That investigation began with two employees who were suspended with pay
immediately following the incident, but on Thursday morning, Headstart
terminated both of those employees, along with two others.
While Headstart won't speak to the specifics of the incident, a
spokesperson did point to the operations manual for early learning
childcare centres. The manual prohibits the following actions by staff
members:
striking a child;
shaking, shoving, spanking, pinching, or other measures that produce physical pain;
verbal abuse such as yelling;
sending a child to a cot, mat, time-out chair, or a corner; and
physically restraining a child.
The matter has been referred to the New Brunswick Education Department.
When asked why the incident has not been referred to the RCMP, Chad
Peters of Moncton Headstart said: “The way the system works when an
incident is discovered is it gets reported to the Department of
Education and Early Childhood Development and Social Development. In the
operating standards, it outlines the relative pieces of legislation
that are governed - those two practices and in there they would make the
determination of the decision on what we get referred.”
Peters also said that parents who have children in programs at Moncton
Headstart have received a letter informing them that an investigation is
and will be ongoing in regards to the incident.
The charity has been a fixture in the community providing support for
many families and children in disadvantaged circumstances.
Erik Gingles says he's in, while Chad Peters set to announce bid Tuesday
Shane Magee · CBC News · Posted: Jan 27, 2020 5:29 PM AT
Candidates are beginning to step forward for the Moncton municipal election set for May 2020. (Shane Magee/CBC)
The race to be Moncton's mayor kicked off this week with the
first person announcing they want to lead New Brunswick's largest city.
Erik
Gingles confirmed over the weekend that he will run in the May 11
municipal election. Other announcements will take place later this week,
including Chad Peters on Tuesday. One-term Mayor Dawn Arnold will
announce her decision on whether to reoffer by the end of the week.
Since
2016, Gingles has run a video-news site called Buzzlocal that regularly
livestreams Moncton council meetings and produces video segments about
community news and events
"I
could see there were a lot of things that, I believe, happening that
were becoming major problems that just weren't being addressed," Gingles
said. "That people just weren't necessarily being listened to."
Gingles said he'll be running with a platform focusing on three topics: social issues, public safety and the environment.
Erik Gingles is among those running to be mayor of Moncton in the May 2020 municipal election. (Shane Magee/CBC)
He said his time covering council has given him a strong
understanding of the issues Moncton is facing and how the city
operates. While people encouraged him to run to be a councillor, he was
also told the mayor's office was where the agenda is set.
Gingles
said he's always wanted to be involved in municipal politics, but
wanted to wait until after his children were finished school. The
youngest of his three children graduates this spring.
Gingles grew
up in Moncton, graduated from Harrison Trimble High School and spent
nine years teaching English in Japan before returning to the city with
his wife.
Tamara Nichol, a former district education council
chair, and Luc LeBlanc, a University of Moncton professor and former NDP
candidate, are his campaign co-chairs.
Gingles
said he will likely still produce stories about the community through
Buzzlocal while running for office. He is considering whether
to continue to cover city council.
Chad Peters
A
Facebook page for Chad Peters, listing him as a politician, began
running advertisements last week for a "campaign launch" at a downtown
hotel set for Tuesday morning. The event page says it is regarding an
"important announcement about the upcoming municipal elections."
In
an interview with CBC News in September, Peters said he was leaning
toward running for mayor. He declined another interview ahead of the
formal announcement.
"There are a number of challenges that the
city is facing and it could, in a number of people's view and in my
own, we could benefit from a change at the top of the mayor's position,"
Peters said in September.
Chad Peters, who most recently run a communications business, is set to announce his candidacy Tuesday. (Shane Magee/CBC)
He said there appeared to be a divide at council between those
who regularly voted with the mayor and those who don't. He said he would
try to position himself as someone to bring the sides together.
While Peters hasn't regularly attended council meetings in person to observe, he said he regularly followed proceedings online.
Peters
is owner of Lynnwood Strategies, a communications firm in Moncton.
Previously, he was a vice president with communications firm M5. Before
that, he was a manager with SWN Resources, Canada's oil and natural gas
exploration program in New Brunswick.
Peters grew up in Sunny
Brae and graduated from Moncton High School. He's been involved with the
Progressive Conservatives, including running as a candidate in the 2007
Moncton East provincial byelection following Bernard Lord's
resignation. He lost to Liberal Chris Collins.
Dawn Arnold
Moncton
Mayor Dawn Arnold told reporters Monday she has made a decision about
whether to reoffer and will make an announcement on Friday.
"I've
never actually declared ever before March Break," Arnold said Monday
when asked about potentially balancing duties as mayor and running for
reelection over the coming months.
"It's 16 weeks from today. That is a very long time to be running a campaign and being mayor. It's going to be interesting."
Moncton Mayor Dawn Arnold says she'll be announcing this week whether she'll be seeking a second term. (Shane Magee/CBC News)
Arnold was first elected as a city
councillor in 2012 and had served as chair of the Frye Festival for 15
years. She became the city's first female mayor in 2016 when she
defeated Brian Hicks.
She has emphasized downtown growth during her time leading the city.
Charles
Burrell, founder of the Humanity Project in Moncton, posted on Facebook
earlier this month he is running for mayor. However, he has not
confirmed if he will actually run.
Our focus is to engage the public in their own communities
using the motto: Local People, Local Stories, Global Perspective. It’s
important to know and understand what is happening in your own backyard.
Because things can change quickly, and by understanding the issues that
affect you and your surroundings, the better chance you have to be the
steward of where you live.
Our Team
Erik Gingles
Journalist
A Moncton boy Erik is the president of the boutique
marketing agency i communications inc. Prior to that he taught English
for a large manufacturing company in Nagano Japan. While there he penned
his book ‘Living North of Lucky’ as well as writing on the Nagano
Winter Olympics for USA Today and MacLean’s Magazine as well as Velo
News covering World Cup events. Since his return Erik has worked as a
Story Producer for the Discovery channel series the Frontier’s of
Construction, CBC radio, and has written hundreds of humour and business
related articles. In the summer of 2016 he started buzzlocal.tv – an
online video news magazine focussing on the local
Alex
Journalist
Raised in Moncton, Alex studied journalism at St. Thomas
University. He started working with Buzzlocal in late 2016. He enjoys a
good movie, a good read, and a good board game. Alex plans to become not
so quite an amateur sailor.
As a result of Bernard Lord's resignation, a by-election had to be called within six months of January 31, 2007. The date was set for March 5, 2007. The governing Liberals were hopeful that they could win the seat as it was held by Liberal Ray Frenette from 1974 to 1998 and because they are showing strength in recent opinion polls across the province.
Candidates
The Liberal leader, Premier Shawn Graham,
said he would not interfere in the nomination process, leaving it up to
the riding to determine a candidate but that, as he has only three
women in his caucus, he added that he "will be actively searching for
women to run".[2]
Of the three candidates there were two men (Chris Collins, Daniel
LeBlanc) and one woman (Gilberte Losier). Chris Collins, a Moncton city
councillor, was nominated as the Liberal candidate.
Chad Peters, a staffer with the Conservative Party's legislative
office, and a former Elvis impersonator, was nominated on February 10,
2007.[3]
The
Liberals don't have next month's byelection in Moncton East wrapped up,
the newly nominated Progressive Conservative candidate says.
Businessman
Chad Peters, 35, had been working with the Conservatives' policy and
research bureau until he was nominated Saturday.
While political
pundits are predicting an easy win for Liberal candidate Chris Collins,
Peters said the experts may be proven wrong, given the government's
performance since taking power last fall.
He said the actions of Premier Shawn Graham's government have turned off a lot of voters.
"I
think that the Liberals do believe they have this thing all wrapped up,
but I think that's just indicative of the way they've taken advantage
of most of New Brunswick voters over the last four months," Peters said
Saturday.
The Moncton East seat became vacant when former premier Bernard Lord resigned from politics.
Hélène Lapointe is representing the NDP in the byelection.
Based in Moncton, New Brunswick, Lynwood Strategies offers a variety of strategic communications solutions for clients throughout Atlantic Canada. We work hard to stay on top of the social, political and economic changes happening throughout the region so our clients can get the best, and most relevant advice and solutions that work.
Chad Peters President & Chief Strategist
Chad Peters is President and Chief Strategist at Lynwood Strategies. In this role he helps clients deliver value to their various publics through strategic communications programs, research and public opinion polling, as well as public, stakeholder, and media relations efforts.
Over the past 20 years, Chad has held senior roles with various national and international companies in a variety of sectors including energy, retail, community economic development and manufacturing. Prior establishing Lynwood Strategies, Chad led SWN Resources Canada’s (Southwestern Energy) oil and natural gas exploration program in New Brunswick.
As a strategist, Chad has extensive experience in public relations, corporate communications, public policy development, and crisis management. With a unique insight and knowledge of how governments work and relate to the publics they serve, Chad has provided strategic counsel to a number of clients throughout Canada and the United States.
Fully bilingual (English & French), Chad holds a Bachelor of Arts (Political Science) from the University of New Brunswick, and diplomas in Corporate Communication and Marketing Management from Centennial College.
Active in his community, Chad is a member of the board of directors of the Atlantic Chamber of Commerce, the Food Depot Alimentaire, and the YMCA of Greater Moncton.
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