A new mayor and several new councillors are on their way to city hall after the municipal election Monday in Miramichi, N.B.

Gerry Cormier took 4,288 votes in the election, beating three competitors for the mayor's post.

Monday's vote was the first time the city chose its councillors on an at-large basis rather than individuals serving wards. Elected councillors will be representing everyone in the city rather than just people in their own neighbourhoods.

Cormier said he hopes the new system and new faces will lead to an end of the previous divisions in the city.

"People are looking for some new ideas and some new faces and that's what happened this time," Cormier said.

With only two council incumbents being re-elected, it's a signal that the community is ready for change, he said.

"They want something a little different, something new."

Former mayor John McKay had elected not to run again, citing what he called a dysfunctional city council.

The ward system had divided the community, which amalgamated the towns of Newcastle and Chatham in 1995, and council, McKay said.

The council was "perhaps more focused on neighbourhood issues rather than on city issues," said the former mayor.

Thirty-three people ran for the 10 city council seats. Eight incumbents sought re-election, but only Rupert Bernard and Brian King returned to council.

The two incumbents will be joined by Derek Burchill, Joan Cripps, Jason Harris, Nancy Lordon, Michael (Tanker) Malley, Michael McCoombs, Bill Treadwell and Robert Trevors.

Approximately 57 per cent of the eligible voters in Miramichi voted, casting 8,182 ballots.