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PC candidate asked to quit Riverview council

Last Updated: Tuesday, September 21, 2010 | 12:50 PM ET

CBC News

A Riverview town councillor is being asked to resign her seat over her decision to run in the provincial election in a different community.

Sherry Wilson is running for the Progressive Conservatives in the nearby riding of Petitcodiac, but she's still serving as a town councillor in Riverview.

Riverview Coun. Bob Hyslop raised the issue recently and said Wilson, his colleague on council, moved out of town to run in Petitcodiac.

'Currently I don't own a home. I don't rent. I'm staying with a friend in Riverview and I'm also staying at my parents in the riding because I'm out here some.'— PC candidate Sherry Wilson

A candidate running in the provincial election doesn't have to live in the riding they want to represent. But the Municipalities Act states a local councillor must reside in the community they are serving.

"I feel that she should resign from council because she's no longer a Riverview resident," Hyslop said.

Riverview Mayor Clarence Sweetland said council spoke with Wilson and he's confident she still lives in Riverview.

"We took that matter up with that councillor, we've been advised that she does in fact live in the town of Riverview, living with a friend right now so that meets the requirement she's still a resident as far as we're concerned," Sweetland said.

Playing politics

Denise Scott, the executive director of the New Brunswick Liberals, said Wilson has told some people she lives in Petitcodiac and others she lives in Riverview.

"Somebody has to come clean on where she actually resides. You cannot reside in two locations," Scott said.

The confusion over her residency is all about politics, according to Wilson.

She said she sold her Riverview condo in July but kept her business in the town.

"Currently I don't own a home. I don't rent. I'm staying with a friend in Riverview and I'm also staying at my parents in the riding because I'm out here some," Wilson said.

Wilson said it'll be the voters who decide whether Petitcodiac or Riverview will be her permanent home.

The Tories are trying to put the Petitcodiac riding back in their win column. The strong Progressive Conservative riding elected a Tory MLA in the 2006 election.

However, Petitcodiac MLA Wally Stiles, along with his wife Moncton West MLA Joan MacAlpine-Stiles, crossed the floor to sit with the Liberals in 2007.

Premier Shawn Graham appointed Stiles minister of natural resources.

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Overall Results

Overall Election Results
Party Elected Leading Total
Updated: Sep. 28, 2010, 12:49 AM ADT
PC 42 0 42
LIB 13 0 13
NDP 0 0 0
GRN 0 0 0
PA 0 0 0
IND 0 0 0

Choose a format to view results for all ridings and parties:

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All results are unofficial until final ballot counts are verified by Elections New Brunswick.

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