FREDERICTON, N.B. – The riding of Fredericton South will see another candidate on their ballot this upcoming election.
Courtney Mills, 28, is running as an independent in the already tight race. That pits her against incumbent PC candidate Craig Leonard, Liberal Roy Wiggins, the NDP’s Kelly Lamrock, and Green Party leader David Coon.
“I’m not intimidated, I’m honoured to be running alongside these very qualified and experienced men,” said Mills. “At the same time, I feel that we need a change and I’m bringing a different perspective to the issues and to the type of candidate that we typically see.”
A recent graduate from UNB’s law school, Mills says she can’t find a job in her field. Instead, she’s serving at the King Street Ale House, and says most of her coworkers are in the same boat. So she’s making post-secondary education a corner-stone in her campaign.
“The parties have already decided to dictate what the issues of this election are going to be, and they’re not really listening to what New Brunswickers are talking about,” she said.
As one of only a handful of independents in the province, Mills says she has more freedom than other candidates, which is appealing to some voters like Norm Skelton.
“Party politics has been the destruction of democracy in Canada for the past 27 years,” said Skelton.
“I’ve been a card carrying Liberal for most of my life, but – it’s a secret ballot right?”
As for the possibility of “splitting” a vote, Mills says that might be her ticket to the legislature.
“People are tired of the status quo and the going back and forth between the liberals and conservatives. So the vote is already going to be split, I’m hoping that potentially could work to my advantage.”
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