Rothesay (electoral district)

Rothesay is a provincial electoral district for the Legislative Assembly of New Brunswick, Canada. The riding consists of the Town of Rothesay and its surroundings.

Rothesay
New Brunswick electoral district
The riding of Rothesay (as it exists from 2014) in relation to other electoral districts in Greater Saint John.
Coordinates:45.385°N 65.965°W / 45.385; -65.965
Provincial electoral district
LegislatureLegislative Assembly of New Brunswick
MLA
 
 		 
Ted Flemming
Progressive Conservative
District created1994
First contested1995
Last contested2020
Demographics
Population (2011)15,279[1]
Electors (2013)10,962[1]
Census division(s)Kings County, Saint John County
Census subdivision(s)Rothesay, Saint John, Simonds Parish, Rothesay Parish, Hampton Parish, Upham Parish

The district was created in 1994 as Saint John-Kings out of parts of Saint John County, Kings County and a small portion of the eastern edge of the City of Saint John all in and around the Town of Rothesay, a bedroom community of Saint John. In 2006, its boundaries were reduced to be just Rothesay and its immediate surroundings so, as a result, its name was changed to Rothesay.

2012 by-election

Four-term incumbent Margaret-Ann Blaney, upon appointment as CEO of Efficiency NB, announced that she would resign the seat effective May 25,[2] requiring a by-election to be called no later than November 25, 2012, which means an election will be held no later than December 31, 2012.[3] On May 25, Premier of New Brunswick David Alward announced that the by-election would be held on June 25.[4]

The incumbent Conservatives chose local lawyer and businessman Hugh John "Ted" Flemming III to be their candidate over local education council member Charlotte McGill Pierce. Flemming is the grandson and great-grandson of former premiers Hugh John Flemming and James Kidd Flemming respectively.[5]

Media speculated whether one of the three candidates for the Liberal Party leadership or New Democratic leader Dominic Cardy will seek the seat in this by-election as none of them held seats in the legislative assembly.[6] While none of the Liberal leadership candidates ran, NDP leader Cardy was acclaimed by his party.[7][8] The People's Alliance of New Brunswick announced that they will not contest the election and endorsed Cardy's candidacy.[9]

The Liberals chose retired police officer and clean water activist John Wilcox as their candidate over businessman Bill Gulliver by a margin of 81 to 49.[10]

Sharon Murphy is the New Brunswick Green Party candidate and Marjorie MacMurray is running as an independent.[11]

Issues

Early media coverage of the race focussed on the controversial appointment of Margaret-Ann Blaney as CEO of Efficiency New Brunswick, a crown corporation.[12] Several prominent Progressive Conservatives backed away from the issue[13] with Finance Minister Blaine Higgs demurring "it's certainly incumbent on me, and it's incumbent on my colleagues, to respect the decision that the premier makes,"[14] and PC candidate Hugh John "Ted" Flemming III stating "I wasn't there."[15] Premier David Alward, at the time of her appointment said "I have full confidence that I have the best person for the job,"[16] and Blaney noted that her motivation for taking the post arose in part from a desire to spend more time closer to family in the Saint John area, after a difficult year.[17] The appointment was criticized as political patronage by the New Brunswick Liberal Association and the New Brunswick New Democratic Party who noted that prior to Blaney accepting the $150,000-175,000 per year position it had been carried out by the deputy minister of Environment and Local Government at no additional cost to the taxpayer.[18] Deputy Premier Paul Robichaud offered competing explanations for the appointment suggesting that the deputy minister of Environment and Local Government responsibilities over Efficiency New Brunswick was only "a temporary position."[19] Dominic Cardy, the New Democratic candidate, proposed a bill to end political patronage that would require positions such as CEO of Efficiency New Brunswick to be publicly competed.[20]

Members of the Legislative Assembly
Assembly Years Member Party
Saint John Kings
Riding created from Kings West, Saint John-Fundy and East Saint John
53rd  1995–1999     Laureen Jarrett Liberal
54th  1999–2003     Margaret-Ann Blaney Progressive Conservative
55th  2003–2006
Rothesay
56th  2006–2010     Margaret-Ann Blaney Progressive Conservative
57th  2010–2012
 2012–2014 Ted Flemming
58th  2014–2018
59th  2018–2020
60th  2020–Present

Election results

Rothesay
2020 New Brunswick general election
Party Candidate Votes%±%
Progressive ConservativeTed Flemming4,26561.28+11.30
LiberalJason Hickey1,46321.02-7.21
GreenAnn McAllister71910.33+2.27
People's AllianceMichael Griffin4135.93-4.25
IndependentLiz Kramer560.80
IndependentN. B. Barnett440.63
Total valid votes 6,960
Total rejected ballots 140.20-0.11
Turnout 6,97463.22-0.31
Eligible voters 11,031
Progressive Conservative hold Swing +9.26
Source: Elections New Brunswick[21]
2018 New Brunswick general election
Party Candidate Votes%±%
Progressive ConservativeTed Flemming3,54249.98+4.78
LiberalStephanie Tomilson2,00128.23+0.85
People's AllianceMichael Griffin72210.19+10.19
GreenAnn McAllister5718.06+3.86
New DemocraticJosh Floyd2513.54-19.68
Total valid votes 7,087100.0
Total rejected ballots 220.31
Turnout 7,10963.53
Eligible voters 11,190
Progressive Conservative hold Swing +1.97
Source: Elections New Brunswick[22]
2014 New Brunswick general election
Party Candidate Votes%±%
Progressive ConservativeHugh J. "Ted" Flemming3,03445.20+6.94
LiberalStephanie Tomilson1,83827.38-3.89
New DemocraticJohn Wilcox1,55923.22-4.05
GreenAnn McAllister2824.20+2.58
Total valid votes 6,713100.0
Total rejected ballots 140.21
Turnout 6,72761.40+16.29
Eligible voters 10,956
Progressive Conservative notional hold Swing +5.42
Source: Elections New Brunswick[23]
New Brunswick provincial by-election, June 25, 2012
On the resignation of Margaret-Ann Blaney, May 16, 2012
Party Candidate Votes%±%
Progressive ConservativeHugh John "Ted" Flemming III1,62538.26-18.31
LiberalJohn Wilcox1,32831.27+2.87
New DemocraticDominic Cardy1,15827.27+18.30
GreenSharon Murphy691.62-4.43
IndependentMarjorie MacMurray621.46–
Total valid votes 4,242100.0
Total rejected ballots 110.26
Turnout 4,25345.11-22.10
Eligible voters 9,428
Progressive Conservative hold Swing -10.63
Source: Elections New Brunswick[24]
2010 New Brunswick general election
Party Candidate Votes%±%
Progressive ConservativeMargaret-Ann Blaney3,37256.64+8.01
LiberalVictoria Clarke1,69028.39-18.74
New DemocraticPamela Scichilone5348.97+4.73
GreenSharon Murphy-Flatt3576.00–
Total valid votes 5,953100.0
Total rejected ballots 410.68
Turnout 5,99467.21
Eligible voters 8,918
Progressive Conservative hold Swing +13.38
Source: Elections New Brunswick[25]
2006 New Brunswick general election
Party Candidate Votes%±%
Progressive ConservativeMargaret-Ann Blaney2,85348.63+0.60
LiberalPaul Barry2,76547.13+9.50
New DemocraticTroy Polchies2494.24-7.88
Total valid votes 5,867100.0
Progressive Conservative hold Swing -4.45
[26]

Saint John-Kings
2003 New Brunswick general election
Party Candidate Votes%±%
Progressive ConservativeMargaret-Ann Blaney3,13548.03-17.56
LiberalTom Young2,45637.63+12.68
New DemocraticJeff Joseph Thibodeau79112.12+2.66
GreyMark LeBlanc1452.22–
Total valid votes 6,527100.0  
Progressive Conservative hold Swing -15.12
[27]
1999 New Brunswick general election
Party Candidate Votes%±%
Progressive ConservativeMargaret-Ann Blaney4,60565.59+29.62
LiberalZita Longobardi1,75224.95-19.66
New DemocraticKen Wilcox6649.46-2.13
Total valid votes 7,021100.0  
Progressive Conservative gain from Liberal Swing +24.64
[28]
1995 New Brunswick general election
Party Candidate Votes%±%
LiberalLaureen Jarrett3,17644.61
Progressive ConservativeBill Artiss2,56135.97
New DemocraticPam Coates82511.59
IndependentGary Ewart4976.98
Natural LawAllison Pring600.84
Total valid votes 7,119100.0  
Liberal notional gain Swing  
Independent candidate Gary Ewart was previously affiliated with the Confederation of Regions.
[29]

* This was a new district established in the New Brunswick electoral redistribution, 1994, when the old riding of Kings West was split between Hampton-Belleisle, Saint John-Kings and Kennebecasis.

References
  1. "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on October 5, 2013. Retrieved March 24, 2014.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  2. Premier announces new president, chief executive officer of Efficiency NB
  3. Sections 13 through 15 of the Elections Act
  4. CBC reporter Jacques Poitras on Twitter reporting Alward's announcement.
  5. Otiena Ellwand. "Flemming wins Tory nomination in Rothesay," New Brunswick Telegraph-Journal, June 4, 2012.
  6. CBC News. Blaney's resignation sparks byelection questions. Accessed May 22, 2012.
  7. News 88.9. Rothesay NDP acclaim Cardy as by-election candidate. Accessed June 6, 2012.
  8. CBC News. NDP Leader Dominic Cardy will run in byelection. Accessed June 6, 2012.
  9. CBC News. People's Alliance backs NDP's Cardy in byelection, June 5, 2012. Accessed June 5, 2012.
  10. Otiena Ellwand. "Retired officer wins Liberal nomination ," New Brunswick Telegraph-Journal, June 6, 2012.
  11. Elections New Brunswick. "Five candidates running in Rothesay byelection," June 8, 2012. Accessed June 9, 2012.
  12. CBC News. "Blaney controversy hangs over Rothesay byelection" June 12, 2012
  13. CBC News. "Blaine Higgs balks at endorsing Blaney's appointment" June 6, 2012
  14. CBC News. "Higgs backs Alward, refuses to endorse Blaney's job" June 8, 2012
  15. CBC News. "Tory candidate refuses to endorse Blaney's appointment" CBC, June 7, 2012.
  16. CBC News. "Blaine Higgs balks at endorsing Blaney's appointment" May 17, 2012
  17. CBC News. "Blaney resigns to become Efficiency NB CEO ," CBC, May 16, 2012.
  18. CBC News. "Liberals question if Blaney's new job was vacant ," CBC, May 17, 2012.
  19. "Deputy premier offers new rationale for Blaney's job" CBC News, June 14, 2012
  20. Country 94.1 FM "NDP Candidate Makes Election Promise" News June 7, 2012
  21. "Provincial Election Results". Elections New Brunswick. Retrieved September 15, 2020.
  22. "Provincial Election Results". Elections New Brunswick. November 20, 2018. Retrieved November 20, 2018.
  23. Elections New Brunswick (October 6, 2014). "Declared Results, 2014 New Brunswick election". Archived from the original on October 14, 2014. Retrieved October 16, 2014.
  24. "By-election, Rothesay, June 25, 2012 - Report of the Chief Electoral Officer" (PDF). Elections New Brunswick. July 6, 2012. Retrieved January 1, 2015.
  25. "Thirty-seventh General Election - Report of the Chief Electoral Officer" (PDF). Elections New Brunswick. September 27, 2010. Retrieved January 1, 2015.
  26. New Brunswick Votes 2006. CBC News. Retrieved May 22, 2009.
  27. "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on September 30, 2013. Retrieved March 24, 2014.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  28. "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on September 28, 2012. Retrieved January 27, 2010.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  29. "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on September 28, 2012. Retrieved March 18, 2013.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
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