Saint John Mayor Don Darling says he’s considering running for the Liberals in this September’s provincial election — and he expects to make a decision in the next three or four weeks.
He was recently approached by the New Brunswick Liberal Association about running in the riding of Saint John Lancaster.
Darling tells us he still wants to make a difference for Saint John and its residents — but is questioning where he can have the biggest impact.
“You know, I can have a strong Saint John voice right here at council,” says Darling, “or there’s another option maybe where I could look at that option at a provincial level to be in Fredericton, at the table, fighting for Saint John for the structural changes that we need.”
It was just a few weeks ago that the Liberal government said it would give the city up to $22.8 million as part of a three-year deal to help address its growing structural deficit.
The money is intended to give Saint John a bit of breathing room of sorts so it can work with the province to find long-term measures to help grow the city’s economy.
Darling would be running against PC MLA Dorothy Shephard, who said on Twitter he’ll forever be known as the Liberal mayor from Saint John — even if he doesn’t run.
From this day forward, whether Don Darling runs for MLA or not, he will be forever known as the LIBERAL Mayor from Saint John.
— Dorothy Shephard (@ShephardDorothy) March 13, 2018
Darling wouldn’t be the first Saint John mayor to try his hand at provincial or federal politics.
Mel Norton launched a failed bid for the leadership of the province’s Progressive Conservatives in 2016, Ivan Court put his name forward for the Liberals in Saint John Lancaster in 2014, and the late Elsie Wayne served as Conservative MP for the riding of Saint John from 1993 to 2004.
Darling says his consideration has nothing to do with what’s good for him, but instead what’s good for Saint John and its future.
“Time isn’t on our side here, okay, so how can we get results, how can we build on the good work that’s already being done here and accelerate getting results and where can I have the biggest impact,” he says.
Darling would be allowed to stay on as mayor if he does run but says it’s too soon to say if he would.
