Susan Holt wins legislature seat in Liberal byelection sweep

"Are you ready for it?"

Quoting singer-songwriter Taylor Swift, N.B. Liberal Leader Susan Holt asked thatquestion as she addressed a crowd of around 50 supporters at a Bathurst pubafter beingelected inBathurst East-Nepisiguit-Saint-Isidore, securing her seat in the legislature.

Liberals also swepttwo other ridings where byelections were held Monday, with Richard LosierwinninginDieppe and Marco LeBlanctakingRestigouche-Chaleur.

In her speech to supporters, Holt said the riding welcomed her with "open doors and with open arms."

"You shared with me your hopes and your fears and your dreams, and I take that so seriously," said Holt.

"I can promise you today that I will honour everything you've shared with me and give you my best effort, my hardest work to sincerely represent your interests in the Legislative Assembly as the MLA forBathurst East-Nepisiguit-Saint-Isidore."

She said her team will work to "bring New Brunswick into the future," mentioningbetter access to health care and daycare, a green economy andaffordable housing.

When speaking with reporters after her speech, Holt said she was grateful people put their trust in her.

She said leading up to the byelection, she "did the work" and was out connecting with people every day to give them a chance to get to know her.

But she said although she felt optimistic going into it, she still had butterflies up until the eighth poll came in.

Holt was elected leader of the N.B. Liberal Party last August. Her new seat, inBathurst East-Nepisiguit-Saint Isidore,was held by longtime Liberal MLA Denis Landry, who stepped down from provincial politics.

Green Party candidate Serge Brideau, a well-known musician and activist with the Acadian Society of New Brunswick, came second to Holt.

He said he thinks the Greens are gaining momentum across the province given the number of votes he received, compared to the Green Party support in the last election for his riding.

"We worked as hard as we could but democracy has the last word and that's what's important," he told reporters.

Green Party candidates came second in all three ridings on Monday night. The Progressive Conservatives did not field a candidate against Holt.

Holt's winbrings the standings in the legislature to 29seats for the Progressive Conservatives, 16 for the Liberals and three for the Greens, one Independent. This also makes her the leader of the official opposition.

Here's how the votingstackedup:

Bathurst East-Nepisiguit-Saint-Isidore

• Holt, Liberal2,343.
• Serge Brideau, Green Party1,411.
• Alex White, NDP 227

Restigouche-Chaleur

• Marco LeBlanc, Liberal2,462
• Rachel Boudreau,Green Party 1,541.
• Anne Bard-Lavigne, PC 771.
• Alex Gagn, NDP 95.

Dieppe

• RichardLosier, Liberal 2,424 votes.
• Chantal Landry, Green Party 651.
• Dean Leonard, PC 298.
• Cyprien Okana, NDP 96.