Longtime Hester St. residents to run against Smith

Residents of Hester Street in HRM's District 9, Albro Lake-Harbourview, will have a good opportunity to elect someone with strong connections to their neighbourhood in the upcoming municipal election.

One current resident of the street and another aspiring politician that recently moved from his parent's house on the quiet street of about 30 homes, have announced their intentions to run for councillor.

Brain LeBlanc and Wayne Sitland, both longtime residents of Hester Street, have decided they will run against incumbent Coun. Jim Smith. Smith has represented the district since 2004.

LeBlanc, the youngest of the three declared candidates, was "born and raised on Hester Street." Since graduating in the spring with a Bachelor of Arts with a double major in International Development and Political Studies, he moved to a home of his own in a nearby neighbourhood earlier this year.

"I spent a lot of time at Saint Mary's doing International Development studies, found there was a need for change and I am the one that provide it," said LeBlanc, when asked why he had decided to run for office. "The big issues in the district are crime, opportunities for youth and how to develop the community. City council has the power to change all of that."

At the other end of Hester Street lives Sitland. His municipal political experience includes running for Alderman in Dartmouth's Ward 4 in 1994 and volunteering as campaign manager for Clint Schofield in 2004.

Sitland says his goal in running for councillor is to "bring accountability back."

"If I am elected, I will be available 24/7."

Sitland says that should he win the councillor's position he will use part of his salary to hire someone to work for residents, should he be unavailable for any reason.

In addition to all running for councillor in District 9, Leblanc, Sitland and Smith all have something else in common.

"We all have links to Gerry," says Sitland, referring to the fact that the three all have had ties to the Dartmouth North provincial New Democratic Party and the former MLA for Dartmouth North Gerry Pye.

Smith was the president of the NDP's Dartmouth North constituency association prior to being elected to municipal council and LeBlanc is the current president.

Sitland has held positions in the association's election planning committee, was a vice president and an interim president.

"It's a misconception," says LeBlance when asked about all of the candidates having a strong provincial NDP connection. "We are all running as independents. I have supporters that Green, Liberal and Conservative."

The municipal election will take place on Oct. 18.

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