Only Ward 4's Louisa Barton-Duguay is out when new council takes office

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While change was the watchword in a number of New Brunswick municipalities yesterday, that was not the case in the province's largest centre. Moncton voters came out in smaller numbers than they did in 2004 and with one exception, stuck with incumbents wherever that was an option.

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Paulette Theriault was elected as councillor in Moncton’s Ward 1.

Veteran Councillor Kathryn Barnes was returned to her seat on Moncton City Council.

Here's a look at how Moncton voted in the four wards and at large.

At Large

In the race for two councillor-at-large positions, Monctonians went with experience, handily returning two incumbents in retired civil servant Kathryn Barnes and lawyer Pierre Boudreau. At press time, Barnes had about 11,500 votes to Boudreau's 10,000, while businesswoman Anya Trites and semi-retired energy consultant Roy MacMullin each captured more than 4,000 votes.

Kathryn Barnes has served four terms on Moncton city council, and has twice been deputy mayor. She has been an advocate for beautification, greenways and trails, and has been actively involved in the construction of the Settlers Landing and Boardwalk on the riverfront, as well as the restoration of the Treitz Haus and the Free Meeting House. She now heads the Active Transportation Committee and is an avid promoter of Communities in Bloom.

Pierre Boudreau has practiced law in Moncton since 1975. He is a partner in the law firm LeBlanc Boudreau Maillet. He completed a term representing Ward 1 from 1989 to 1992 and was reelected as councillor-at-large during the 2004 municipal elections. He was appointed deputy mayor by city council in May 2006.

Ward 1

Incumbent Steven Boyce won handily with close to 2,000 votes, while Paulette Thériault was also elected to council with about 1,700 votes.

Businessman Brian Donaghy came a close third with about 1,500 votes, retired Aliant employee Richard (Rick) Shaw had roughly 1,000, retired police officer Graham Walker had more than 900 and financial planner Darren T. Robertson had 650.

First elected in 1998 and returned to office in the 2001 and 2004 municipal elections, Steven Boyce now enters his fourth term. As councillor, Boyce has championed environmental issues and quality of life improvements as chairman of the city's arts and cultural affairs committee.

Paulette Thériault, well known for her work in arts and culture industries, wants to work toward safe and vibrant neighbourhoods, ongoing development and support of the Crossman Community Centre -- Kay Arena project, the expansion of the Moncton Museum (Transportation Discovery Centre) and a stronger partnership between local citizens and city administration.

Thériault is a member of the board of directors of Enterprise Greater Moncton and she chairs the Sunny Brae Citizens Committee.

Ward 2

Incumbent Merrill Henderson, currently serving as Moncton's deputy mayor for the third time, has been returned for his fourth term on council. Henderson won handily with 2,500 votes.

Former teacher, entrepreneur, and real estate agent Nancy Hoar will join Henderson, having garnered close to 2,000 votes.

Retired civil servant Jim Davidson, lawyer Chris Nagle, merchant Jean-Marc Dugas and student Vernon Lillies came up short on the ballot. Davidson took about 1,300, Nagle 1,100, Dugas 800 and Lillies almost 300 votes.

Retired from CN Rail, Merrill Henderson chairs the city's finance committee, was instrumental in drafting the city's new municipal plan and is one of the current council's most active members.

He is a member and past president of the Moncton West and Riverview Rotary Club, past president of Moncton Headstart and is the past chairman of the Moncton Headstart Foundation. He is a member of the Probus Club of Greater Moncton, canvasses for the Friends of the Moncton Hospital Annual Appeal and is also involved with Neighbourhood Watch.

Nancy Hoar has served as chairwoman of the Greater Moncton Planning District Commission and the YMCA board, as well as president of the Lake Petitcodiac Preservation Association, Moncton Kinettes, N. B. Manufactured Housing Association, and Hi-Y Club.

She says she will work to extend bus routes and walking trails, work with volunteer organizations, and protect green space. Another key goal is attracting a hotel/convention centre for downtown Moncton with an arts and cultural component.

Ward 3

Incumbent Brian Hicks was returned to his council seat last night with more than 2,000 votes. He will be joined on council by academic and businessman Daniel Bourgeois, who captured more than 1,500 votes. Sue Murray finished out of the running with 1,250, as did Shirley Powell with 1,051 and Earl Garland with 738 votes.

Brian Hicks was first elected to represent Ward 3 on Moncton City Council in an October 1999 by-election and was re-elected in the 2001 and 2004 municipal elections. As a sitting councillor, he is a member of various boards, commissions and committees. He says he will continue to fight for his long-held beliefs that the city should set financial goals and stick to spending priorities, adding new expenditures only after others have been cut to offset increased spending. Hicks also says he will support a convention centre only after a business case has been made for it.

Hicks has been active in the community, having sat on the board of directors of the Moncton Minor Hockey Association and the Midget AAA Flyers Hockey Club. He has also been president of Harrison Trimble High School's Friends of the Trojans.

Daniel Bourgeois says he wants to pursue several projects including limiting property tax increases to the annual rate of inflation.

Other areas of interest are a community centre for the city's north-west area, increasing citizen participation in city council decisions and overhauling the snow removal system.

A life-long resident of the Pinehurst area, Bourgeois has experience dealing with municipal government including chairing the Commission of the Three Communities, which improved collaboration between Moncton, Dieppe and Riverview in the late 1990s. He also chaired Moncton's committee on destination gaming, producing a report identifying the advantages and disadvantages of establishing a casino in Moncton.

Bourgeois has worked as a policy analyst for the city and is completing his four-year term as an elected member of School District 1's District Education Council.

Ward 4

While incumbent René (Pepsi) Landry held onto his council seat easily, incumbent Louisa Barton-Duguay, who took office in a by-election just last May, went down to defeat at the hands of engineer Paul Pellerin.

Landry garnered about 2,200 votes and Pellerin captured about 1,800. Schoolteacher Perry Kukkonen came close with more than 1,500 votes while Barton-Duguay and IT specialist David Hackett finished with 1,300 and 1,200 respectively.

René (Pepsi) Landry is a retired city employee and former provincial MLA, long active in youth and recreation. He has been the liaison councillor for the Moncton Fire Department as well as the Lions Community Centre. He has also been a member of the finance and environment committees, legal and administration, Codiac Transit, and the Pension Board.

Landry says he wants council to hold the line on taxes and look for ways to offer tax relief for citizens.

He also wants to ensure sustainable growth, work for the preservation of Mapleton Park and the widening of Mapleton Road.

Paul Pellerin is president of École Saint-Henri's parent advisory committee and treasurer for their parent committee. He is also involved with, and volunteers for, Moncton Head Start, Saint-Patrick's Family Centre, Habitat for Humanity, and Greater Moncton's Dragon Boat Festival. He is a past member of the 8th Canadian Hussars.

He says fair taxation, accountability, Moncton's economic development, green spaces and other community issues in need of a fresh perspective will be the focal points of his term on council.