It’s a full house in both Kent ridings! The highly contested ridings will see members of all 5 parties battle it out for two seats. The earliest sign of an interestig showdown came during the 2013 redrawing of the electoral map when Kent merged with Kent South and set two incumbents against one another; PC Claude Williams and Liberal leader Brian Gallant.
Gallant’s biggest criticism at that time was that his youth and inexperience was just too big a problem to ignore for the leader of the then-crippled party. Adversely, Williams is a seasoned statesman having held cabinet positions including Minister of Education and Minister of Transportation. Needless to say, Gallant abandoned the high-risk fight and moved his candidacy to Shediac Bay-Dieppe.
Now Williams finds himself in a five person battle royale against Benoit Bourque (L), Paul Musgrave (NDP), Tina Beers (G), and Joel MacIntosh (PANB). Bourque has spent much of his adult life working in the international sector and has jet set to nearly thirty countries. How important is international relations at the provincial level? Bourque believes it is totally invaluable. Musgrave comes to NB from British Columbia where he ran for office under the BCGreen banner. Beers is actually one of the NB Green’s most interesting candidates; the wife of a retired soldier (she has been all over the world as her husband has been stationed and restationed), she is Chair of the Local Service District of Harcourt, a Community Coordinator for United Way, President of the Kent Community Inclusion Network, and is a founding member of the Kent Food Security Network. MacIntosh is a volunteer firefighter and also member of several community organizations.
The returns from the last election in Kent South (and Kent), in conjuction with the latest polling numbers would indicate a two way race here between Williams and Bourque. But the community participation and personal popularity of both the Green and PANB candidates should be considered. This year may see a sudden increase in ballots for at least the Green Party in Kent South.
Kent North, another pile up of candidates will see Liberal incumbent Bertrand LeBlanc defending against Nancy Blanchard (PC), Allan Marsh (NDP), Rebeka Frazer-Chiasson (G), and Josie Rivard (PANB). Rivard wants to “take back our democracy” with a combination of free votes and fiscal conservatism. Frazer-Chiasson, like all Greens this year is very concerned about and involved with food sovereignty. She is a member of the National Farmers Union and sits on the board of directors of the Conservation Council NB. Marsh is a hobby farmer, Chairman of the Local Service District, involved with Tri-County Search and Rescue, and Our Environmen, Our Choice. Most interestingly, Marsh was one of the demonstrators at the Rexton Anti-Shale Gas Protest in 2013. Marsh was credited for his level-headedness during the events and gave many interviews to the press, elaborating on the fears and concerns of those involved. Blanchard, the PC, is a successful buisness manager and local singer who feels the collective voice of Kent North hasn’t been heard by MLA LeBlanc. Kent North has some very right wing views and this may give the PANB an edge to steal some support from Blanchard’s PC base, giving LeBlanc an edge over the Right. But Marsh and Frazer-Chiasson are both strong Leftist candidates as well. Kent North could very well be an interesting riding to watch.
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