The election results came as a bigger surprise than I might have expected. Many predicted the PC majority and yet there was an optimism needed to grow the fledgling Green party. We candidates knew it was just the start. Optimism was required in order to step up to the plate, but it leave a mild depression in the aftermath. If there was a hope in hell, it was a long stretch for me.
Albert Riding's MLA Waynne Steeves was the first to be declared elected by CBC in their televised coverage of the election. And this meant that my mug shot made it on to screens as the third place candidate. Someone said this was after two polls reported. He walked away with the lion's share of the votes. "Give you head a shake", some had said about running for the Greens.
What had I hoped for aside from a distant third place? Well, I hope for a change. I hope discussions keep going. I hope for the exchange of ideas on their own merit. I hope the Green party becomes a bigger part of the discussion so that we may we can shake what it is that keeps a natural development in New Brunswick at bay. I hope we can confront the things that are easier to see "just ain't so".
Will Rogers said, "it ain't the things we don't know that trouble us, this the things we do know that just ain't so."
We showed it's possible to speak openly about the challenges facing NB communities i.e. media concentration, unbalanced policy, broken bureaucratic attitude towards local government organization, etc.. We've shown there is a way to be hopeful while in full recognition of these challenges. By sticking out our necks, we've put a name to it.
