According to polling done for the Telegraph-Journal, Ivan Court is currently ahead in the race for the mayor’s seat.
Court was leading with 21%. Hooton and Ferguson trail at 19% each. McFarlane was in fourth with 14%.
My analysis – be scared. You thought the Great Fire of 1877 was bad, just image what would happen if Court is elected on 21%. That would be mean 79% voted against him.
Who do you think will be running the city then? Just look at the signs around town, the Firefighters and CUPE will be leaning on him hard to push their own agendas. Forget lower taxes, forget safe drinkable water, forget a solution to the pension plan, forget moving forward – we will be heading back.
The problem is that there are four strong candidates running. The issue is further complicated by the fact that people who vote for Court are not likely going to vote for any of the others; however, the people who support Hooton, Ferguson, and McFarlane will move their votes around.
Now is the time to pick a candidate and rally behind them. That means the choice is between Hooton, Ferguson, and McFarlane. I really don’t see Norm having enough support to win, and thats why I think he should step of of the race and support another candidate.
Remember those percentages earlier? If the support from Norm shifted to another candidate, they would be sitting at 33%, enough for a clear win.
How likely is this going to occur? Not likely; however, without the majority of citizens backing a single candidate for mayor, we run the risk of having our vote split three ways allowing Ivan Court to win on 21%.
Saint John – this is your wakeup call, it’s time to make the tough decision and back a single candidate!
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