Candidates looking to lead new town
Where two are becoming one in Northern Carleton County, nine candidates will vie for six council seats in the newly-formed Town of Florenceville-Bristol.
On Monday, residents in both communities will head to the polls to elect a new council, which will pave the way for the town's future in the region.
The new town will be divided into two wards, both representing the current villages of Bristol and Florenceville. Three councillors will be elected in each ward, presenting fair representation from each area.
Ward 2
Joyce Trafford
In Ward 2, formerly the Village of Florenceville, acting mayor Joyce Trafford is seeking a third term as a municipal councillor.
She said she is excited about the amalgamation of the two villages, and the new council will have its hands full, merging the two budgets operating the day-to-day work.
"That will take a little time, so we will need some good, solid leadership there," she said.
Trafford feels a new council should focus on residential growth and economic development. Infrastructure will be key, she pointed out, and said a community can help lure new businesses into the region by having sidewalks, sewer, curbs, lighting and land available.
She added recreation should be a focus, including how it can be improved for all age groups in the new town.
"Not just for youth, but certainly we have to look at our seniors and our middle-aged people," she said. "We have to keep people healthy, so that is a big thing for me."
Nancy Whyte-McCauley
Joining Trafford in the council race is veteran councillor Nancy Whyte-McCauley, who is also seeking a third term since being elected in 2001.
She feels the merger of the two villages is the right course to take for the future.
"I definitely think this is the right direction for our two villages to take," she said. "I would be honoured to serve on this new council if re-elected."
Whyte-McCauley said she believes the new council will have to come together to map out the direction the newly formed town would take. It would need to take into consideration what is good for both wards and interests of the residents, she explained. If re-elected, she said, the first order of business would be to put together five- to ten-year plans, but council would need feedback for the community to do so.
Whyte-McCauley said a focus would also need to be put on business development and diversifying the economy.
"We are certainly open for business here," said Whyte-McCauley. "That is so key to the growth of the community – having new businesses come and set up shop here. It is something I think is a priority for the Town of Florenceville-Bristol."
Gordon Phippen
While newcomer Gordon Phippen has no previous experience on council, he said he is interested in helping out his community and giving something back.
Phippen said he would like to focus on providing for the youth and seniors by implementing programs and activities in the community.
"I'm interested in starting (and promoting more) activities and things for the community and for the young people," he said.
Phippen added he'd like to see more diversification of the local economy, bringing in new companies.
"A diverse economy is always a good thing in my opinion, and I would always support anything that would diversify our economy."
He said the combining of the two villages plays a huge factor in attracting new business as it provides more population and gives it more strength. But the new council would have to be open to new business, changes and demands.
Phippen said he wants to see the community grow into a people-friendly town, a place where people want to live and prosper.
"I want to make it a place where people are proud and want to live and work in our town," he added.
Larry Flemming
Rookie Larry Flemming brings with him a little political experience, serving on student council in university where he gained an understanding of the theory of how council works.
He said nothing in particular peaked his interest in municipal politics, he just always wanted to try his hand at it.
"I'm pretty community oriented, and I like to see things get done for the betterment of our community," he said. "That is my motivating interest there."
Flemming said it will take strong leadership and internal cohesion to get the amalgamation efficiency completed and flowing in the right direction for the future.
"Getting all six oars in the water and paddling in the same direction is going to be important, so we will need a captain who has the vision to get us all moving in the same direction."
Flemming said he also wants to focus on recreation activities and services and extend them to surrounding local service districts. Florenceville's hiring of a new recreation director will be key in getting things done, he pointed out.
"We have seen it already this year, we had our first annual Floville Cup," he said. "Events like that help give a shot in the arm to the local economy and are certainly good things."
Susan Bushby
Also running in Ward 2 is Florenceville incumbent Susan Bushby, although she could not be reached at press time.
Ward 1
Iain Dunlop
In Ward 1, newcomer Iain Dunlop has thrown his hat into the mix. He admits he has no experience in politics, but he has been involved in the community as a volunteer for the last 40 years. Dunlop also brings his numerous years of experience, serving on many community groups and boards in a leadership role.
Dunlop said, being semi-retired, he has lots of time and energy to devote to the role of a councillor, and his work ethic in community involvement speaks volumes.
He calls the merger of the two villages a gem, and would love to be a part of this exciting time. A council that can get everyone moving forward to benefit the community, he explained, would see tremendous economic and population growth.
"I see us as a community who is not going to be a negative-growth community," he said.
He added he expects the community to boom with the opening of a mine near Napadogan and Juniper.
Dunlop pointed out he feels, with a town status, the community can now lure other companies and businesses into the region, which may never have thought about setting up shop in a village. He wants to see Florenceville-Bristol become a growth area in the upcoming years.
"I think there is a lot we can do to enhance the potential of business, small business and medium business," he said. "It looks like we have positioned ourselves. Between Edmundston and Fredericton, I see us as the third service centre in the Valley – Grand Falls and Woodstock being the other two."
Karl Curtis
Bristol incumbent Karl Curtis has re-offered for a second term. He seeks to achieve new growth in the community.
For the last four years in Bristol, he said, he has focused on building the Village to attract people, and now he would like continue it for the new town.
"We're not growing," he said. "and we need people and we need business. That is my focus for the next four years, if I get elected. I think bringing Bristol and Florenceville together into one town gives us so much more buying power as far as trying to attract people and business to set up."
Once the town gets new people and businesses, Curtis pointed out, it will only encourage more to come.
Curtis said he looks forward to a bright and promising future for Florenceville-Bristol. Despite the ups and downs, he said, both communities have seen positive development in the past couple of years, and he would like to generate more tourism.
"We just need to keep working at it and attracting people," he said. "The more people you can get in, the more you can do. We have done a big project in Bristol with the rail cars and the park, and we have got some other plans in the works. I think all of that in one big package is something we can market."
Laurel Bradstreet and Duska Curtis
Incumbent Laurel Bradstreet and newcomer Duska Curtis are also seeking seats in Ward 1. Neither candidates could be reached by press time.
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