Only three familiar faces left around the council table

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Dieppe offered voters one of the hottest municipal elections in some years, and by the time all the ballots were counted, it had lived up to expectations.

WARD 1

Ward 1 pitted political newcomer Dave Maltais against political warhorse Bill Malenfant, who served more than two decades on city council, including several terms as mayor.

It looked like the savvy Malenfant had reached into his bag of political tricks yet again as he pulled out an early lead, but Maltais soon pulled ahead to stay.

"We knew that Bill had won a lot of support in the advance polls anyway," Maltais said last night.

The businessman was effusive in his thanks to voters for giving him the chance to represent Ward 1.

"I want to not only definitely thank the people who supported me, but also I will be there for those who did not support me," Maltais said.

Maltais keyed on the perceived secrecy of the previous council during his campaign and it paid off. It wasn't an election ploy but a sincere wish to make transparency the new way of doing business in Dieppe, he said.

"If someone wants to know what's going on, they will know. There will be no secrets," he said.

"I think we'll have a good team," he said of the new council.

"I'm quite anxious to get going. We'll start working tomorrow."

WARD 2

Councillor Paul LeBlanc returns to council by acclamation. This will be his second term.

WARD 3

Councillor Paul Belliveau, who completed a partial first term after being elected in a byelection, defeated Laurie Bourque.

Bourque was widely seen as a candidate hand-picked by the Dieppe Citizens' Coalition which dogged the previous administration's last year in office with accusations of favouritism, mismanagement and secrecy. It was a refrain that struck a chord with many voters, but apparently not enough in Ward 3 to unseat Belliveau, who said he was rolling up his sleeves for four more years of hard work.

"But it will be a labour of love," he said.

He credited his election team for "a great result."

Belliveau stood by the previous council's efforts, something that many believe cost Mayor Achille Maillet his job and yet won Belliveau another term.

One backer suggested it was because of Belliveau's calm, reasoned demeanour, hard work and the fact he is simply "a nice guy."

WARD 4

Ward 4 continued its recent history of turfing its municipal politicians. In a neighbourhood where citizens perennially feel like the poor cousins to "old" Dieppe which is well established, as well as the "new" Dieppe where development continues at a rapid pace, incumbent Gille Savoie was booted in favour of community activist Hélène Boudreau.

Boudreau was widely seen as Savoie's biggest threat, however Savoie had been one of the strongest councillors of the past four years. It wasn't enough as he finished behind Boudreau as well as behind Bernard LeBlanc of the Lakeburn area.

Boudreau was honoured by the win.

"It's the citizens who decide and I think they spoke loud and clear," she said. "I'm really, really happy right now."

Boudreau will immediately act to open the lines of communication between council and citizens and to get some solid programming lined up for the new aquatic centre, something that should take a year at least.

WARD 5

Ward 5 pitted two strong community activists who have contributed to their community in very different ways.

Roger LeBlanc won the favour of voters, however, defeating Elie Richard.

LeBlanc was a very grassroots candidate with a good one-on-one demeanor and a strong background in community sports and physical activity. He had campaigned on openness and responsible development in booming Dieppe.

Richard had served on several community and business boards of directors, for example presiding over the Dieppe Industrial Park at one point.

COUNCILLORS-AT-LARGE

Jean Gaudet was returned to his familiar at-large seat on council, but with two incumbent at-large councillors not reoffering, the door was open for five other candidates.

Newcomer Jody Dallaire, who built a reputation over the years as a firebrand who is not afraid to tackle tough issues, outpolled them all.

She was surprised by the results.

"I am quite pleased and very humbled by the amount of votes I got," she said.

Dallaire was instrumental in helping Dieppe land a PRO-Kids program and is executive director of the N.B. Childcare Coalition.

"To finish first was quite surprising," she said.

Retired insurance industry veteran Yvon Comeau snared the third and final seat. Comeau campaigned on a theme of openness, availability and listening and acting on voters wishes.