Why I’m Running for Saint John City Council
Earlier this month, I came across a reminder about the importance of voting well. It stuck with me because voting well is about more than checking a box. It’s about taking the time to understand the choices in front of us, and choosing leadership that reflects our shared values and the future we want to build for our city.
As a Ward 3 candidate in this municipal election I am committed to understanding what matters most to our community, building a vision that we can all get behind, and earning the confidence of the community that my leadership skills and experience are what we need to make real progress in building a city that works better for everyone.
Saint John is the heart of New Brunswick’s economy, and Ward 3 is the heart of Saint John. Our city tells a familiar Canadian story: big economic ambitions on paper, growing insecurity on the ground.
We’ve just completed a quarter-billion-dollar port expansion. We’re one of only a few municipalities with our own power utility. We have a world-class oil refinery, advanced manufacturing in forestry and steel, a major defence presence, and the province’s leading hospital, university, and college assets - all in our backyard. We have a City Market, one of the largest inner-city municipal parks in Canada, and most importantly, we have the people, a skilled workforce ready to scale up and build the future.
And yet, affordability is collapsing.
The public housing waitlist has more than doubled since 2021 to over 1,200 households in Saint John alone. Housing, groceries, power, and gas are rising faster than wages. Homelessness, addiction, and child poverty are climbing, even as we invest record amounts in infrastructure.
There’s a widening gap between “jobs created” and “a life you can afford to live.”
Local communities are where that gap gets closed, or ignored. Infrastructure means little if the people building and maintaining it can’t afford to stay, raise families, grow old, or feel safe in the neighbourhoods they serve.
That’s why I’m running.
This campaign is about whether Canada’s oldest city can turn economic growth into good lives for people, and what happens if we don’t.
My Priorities
Homes people can afford
Opportunities for everyone
Neighbourhoods that feel safe
These priorities aren’t just political, they’re personal. I grew up here. I know what it feels like to love Saint John and still feel like you don’t belong. For years, I stayed silent about who I was, afraid of being judged and excluded. Coming out and embracing my authentic self taught me the power of inclusion, empathy, and courage.
With nearly two decades of leadership experience helping governments, businesses, and communities build a better working world, and a lifetime of learning what it means to belong, I’m ready to lead differently. Here’s what that looks like:
• Listen First – Every voice matters.
• Be Transparent – Honest conversations about what we can achieve together.
• Lead with Empathy and Evidence – Decisions grounded in both heart and data.
• Focus on Results – Solutions you can see and feel in your neighborhood.
• Build Trust Through Collaboration – Residents, businesses, and community organizations working side by side.
Our Mission: Stronger Communities, Brighter Futures
This isn’t politics as usual. It’s about building trust, making decisions with empathy and evidence, and creating a city where everyone feels they belong, and can access opportunity.
If that’s the future you want, let’s make it happen together.
Join me today:
Share your ideas – Your voice matters.
Volunteer – Be part of the change.
Spread the word – Help us build momentum.
Together, we can turn economic growth into good lives for people and make Saint John a city where everyone belongs.
