Image: Submitted/Elections New Brunswick
Potential candidates are starting to come forward for the upcoming municipal election in May.
An associate political science professor at UNB Saint John says there are reasons why people would choose to run locally as opposed to at the federal or provincial levels.
“The path to municipal politics is much different because there are no political parties active at the municipal levels, like at the federal and provincial levels,” said J.P. Lewis.
He says if you decide to run, you don’t necessarily have to have all of the connections to get involved.
“We may see more candidates who don’t have as much of a political background, maybe their public service is in different forms that have nothing to do with partisanship,” he said.
In becoming a municipal candidate, Lewis says it’s important to become connected to your community.
“You’re dealing with very local issues. It is local government and you’re dealing with issues that could be happening right in your own backyard. They are much more personal and much closer to where the politician lives,” he said.
Eligible municipal candidates must be a Canadian citizen, at least 18 years of age and a resident of the area in which they are running for at least six months.
Elections NB says nomination forms are due no later than April 9th and can be found online.
Voters will head to the polls on May 11th.
