Tory wave sweeps across Saint John region as PCs win 9 seats

The Saint John region has been painted Tory blue, electing Progressive Conservatives in all but one of 10 ridings.

That includes the resounding defeat of long-serving Liberal cabinet minister Rick Doucet, who lost by more than 1,300 votes to Progressive Conservative Andrea Anderson Mason in Fundy-The Isles-Saint John West.

• FULL COVERAGE: CBC News projects a minority government
• NDP leader loses in Saint John Harbour as party is shut out across province

City councillorGerry Lowe will be the only Liberal MLA from the Saint John region.

He won Saint John Harbour by 10 votes, edging out retired teacher and Progressive Conservative candidate Barry Ogden. NDP Leader Jennifer McKenzie placed a distant third.

Since the riding was decided by fewer than 25 votes, a judicial recount will be automatic upon request.

New Brunswick election night in 90 seconds

6 years ago

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As PCs claim victory, Liberals try to hold onto power.

Progressive Conservative Leader Blaine Higgswon his seat in Quispamsishandily, as did Tory stalwarts like Ted Flemming(Rothesay), Dorothy Shephard (Saint John Lancaster) and Trevor Holder (Portland-Simonds).

The People's Alliance improved its showing in every riding in the Saint John region where it fielded a candidate.

In Sussex-Fundy-St. Martins, People's Alliance candidate Jim Bedford placed second to Tory incumbent Bruce Northrup.

Portland-Simonds

Progressive ConservativeTrevor Holder will serve his sixth term as an MLA after defeating city councillor and Liberal candidate John MacKenzie, capturing 3,168 votes, or more than 53 per cent, to 1,703 for MacKenzie.

The NDP'sKim Bluefinished third with 449votes, while Green Party candidate Sheila Croteauwas close behind with435. Independent candidate Artie Watson received 191votes.

Holder held cabinet posts in the Bernard Lord and David Alward Tory governments.

Saint John East

Progressive Conservative Glen Savoiewill serve a second term, defeating Liberal candidate Clare Manzer by 1,242 votes.

People's Alliance candidate Matthew Thompson placed third with 1,047 votes.

The NDP's Alex White finished fourth, followed by the Green Party's Lynaya Astephen.

Savoie originally lost his bid for the Saint John East seat in 2014, losing to Simonds High School Principal and Liberal candidate Gary Keatingby only nine votes.

But in a surprise turn of events, Keating resigned only 22 days after the election.Savoie easily won the byelection to replace Keating with 44 per cent of the vote.

Saint John Harbour

This riding is notoriously difficult to predict, having voted orange, blue and red in the last 15 years.

In 2014, voters elected Liberal MLA Dr. Ed Dohertybutonly by 71 votes.

It was even more of a nail-biter this time around.

City councillor and Liberal candidate Gerry Lowe won by 10 votes, edging out Barry Ogden, a community activist and retired teacher who ran for the Progressive Conservatives.

• Riding spotlight: Why Saint John Harbour is one to watch

Any past loyalty voters had for former NDPLeaderElizabeth Weir must feel quite distant now. Current NDP Leader Jennifer McKenziefinished third.

Green Party candidate Wayne Dryer who ran for the NDPin 2010, before switching to the Green Party in 2014 received 721 votes.

People's Alliance candidate Margot Brideau received 393votes.

The results may be subject to a recount.

Saint John Lancaster

Voters in west Saint John re-elected Progressive Conservative Dorothy Shephardfor a third term.

Liberal candidate Kathleen Riley-Karamanosfinished with 1,727votes, followed by People's Alliance candidate Paul Seelye.

The Green Party fielded Doug James and the NDPcandidate was Tony Mowery.

Last December, Shephard announced she was taking a leave from the legislature to battle breast cancer.

Earlier this month, she received her final radiation treatment.

"We're almost through this and I am so grateful for the medical professionals who have taken care of me," Shephard wrote in a Facebook post at the time.

Shephardserved asminister of healthy and inclusive communities in the David Alwardgovernment.

Fundy-The Isles-Saint John West

Longtime Liberal Rick Doucet won by a landslide in 2014, beating the late Dr. Jim (Doc) Parrot, a one-time PC MLA, by more than 2,600 votes.

But it was Doucetwho was on the other side of a landslide this time.

• Inside the shifting political tides of Fundy-The Isles-Saint John West

Progressive Conservative newcomer Andrea Anderson Mason won with 3,808 votes to Doucet's2,422.

ThePeople's Alliance candidate, Doug Ellis, finished third with 1,104votes.

Romey Frances Heuff, carrying the Green Party banner, received 469votes, while the NDP'sKeith LeBlanc got 203votes.

Doucetheld the energy and resource development and agriculture, aquaculture and fisheries portfolios in the Gallant government. He was also government house Leader.

Quispamsis

There were no surprises in this suburban riding. PC Leader Blaine Higgswon his riding handily, winning almost 57 per cent of the vote.

Liberal Aaron Kennedy finished second, with2,078 votes, followed by People's Alliance candidate Keith Porter.

The Green Party's Mark Woolseyfinished fourth and NDP candidate Ryan Jewkes placed last with 239 votes.

Rothesay

Like its Kennebecasis Valley neighbour, Rothesay also went blue by a wide margin.

Progressive Conservative Ted Flemming defeated Liberal candidate Stephanie Tomilsonfor the second time.

People's Alliance candidate Michael Griffin finished in third place with 722votes.

The Green Party's Ann McAllister received 571votes, while the NDP'sJosh Floyd got 251votes.

Flemming was first elected in 2012 byelection. He was a member of Alward's cabinet, first as health minister and then as attorney general.

Kings Centre

Progressive Conservative Bill Oliver will spend another four years as the MLA for Kings Centre.

The new riding was created in 2013. It runs from Welsfordup to Norton, encompassing parts of the old Fundy-River Valley and Hampton-Kings ridings.

Oliver garnered 3,267votes, good enough for 43 per cent of the vote.

Liberal Bill Merrifield finished a distant second,followed by People's Alliance candidate Dave Peters.

Green Party candidate Bruce Dryer finished fourth. NDP candidate Susan Jane Sheddreceived342 votes.

Hampton

Hampton elected retired school principal and Progressive Conservative Gary Crossman for a second term, garnering nearly half of the votes in the riding.

The Liberals fielded CarleyParish, a local lawyer. She finished second, followed closely by People's Alliance candidate Dana Hansen.

The Green Party ran John Sabine in the riding, while the NDPcandidate was LaytonPeck.

Sussex-Fundy-St. Martins

Progressive Conservative Bruce Northrup has been re-elected for a fourth term, winning by more than 1,900 votes.

Sussex-Fundy-St. Martins was the best showing for the People's Alliance in the Saint John region. Candidate Jim Bedford came second with more than 1,800 votes.

Liberal Ian Smyth placed third, followed by Green Party candidate Fred Harrison, the NDP's Dawna Robertsonand independent candidate David Raymond Amos.

Northrup was a key part of Alward's cabinet, serving as minister of natural resources. He was later appointed minister of public safety and solicitor general.

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