People’s Alliance Leader Kris Austin to retain riding as party faces reduced numbers in legislature

Kris Austin is projected to retain his seat in the riding of Fredericton-Grand Lake, a stronghold for the People’s of Alliance of New Brunswick.

Monday’s election may not have produced the result that the People’s Alliance Leader wanted, but it has left the party with a “foot in the door,” Austin told the crowd gathered at the party’s HQ in Fredericton.

Austin said he respected the decision by New Brunswickers to elect a PC majority government but admitted that this was not a normal election and these were not normal times.

But the election came at the cost of one of the People’s Alliance’s MLAs in the provincial legislature.

PA incumbent Rick DeSaulniers is projected to have been defeated in the riding of Fredericton-York.

He’s expected to finish in third place, behind projected winner PC candidate Ryan Cullins and Green candidate Melissa Fraser.

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The biggest success story for the third-party is the defeat of Liberal Leader Kevin Vickers by PA incumbent Michelle Conroy.

On Monday, Austin described Conroy as “the dragon slayer” after her win.