The very definition of a back and forth riding; Moncton South is a fickle jurisdiction. The riding itself has changed and been altered several times in recent memory. Regardless of geography, the riding now known as Moncton South has gone from blue to red, back to blue, and returned to red with each election year.
Finance Minister Cathy Rogers is the current MLA for Moncton South. Typically, New Brunswick electors favour sitting cabinet members and the finance portfolio is an especially hot one. Rogers has the recent announcement of a budget surplus also working in her favour.
Rogers’ primary opponent is Moira Murphy of the Progressive Conservatives. Murphy is a family law layer and marathon runner, but will she place first in her race with Rogers? Despite her legal background, Murphy doesn’t have the stockpile of volunteer credits that most politicians collect prior to running for office.
In Moncton South the People’s Alliance are fighting for the New Democrat’s piece of the leftist pie. PANB candidate Marilyn Riel is the Moncton Chapter President of the New Brunswick Common Front for Social Justice. Riel and New Democrat Amy Johnson are both pushing for better living conditions, poverty reduction, and an increase to the minimum wage. This raises an interesting conundrum as the PANB, which normally swings to the right, may also be swiping votes from the left.
The Green Party is running a younger candidate against the establishment. Laura Sanderson appears to have thrown her hat into the ring but has at this point made very little effort in campaigning. Sanderson may just be filling a position for the party but there is still time for her to put in a stronger effort.
Moncton South is one of New Brunswick’s only all-female-candidate ridings.
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