Municipal District of St. Stephen Ward 1 Candidate: Brian Cornish
1. As candidates, what would be your key priorities over the next four years in your community?
As your rural representative—and your rural neighbor—I understand the challenges our communities face every day.
Our roads are deteriorating. Property assessments continue to rise. And more families are concerned about safety and the growing pressures in our rural areas.
These issues aren’t new—but they’ve gone unaddressed for far too long. I will do my best to interact directly with the Department of Transportation and Infrastructure (DTI) to ensure our roads are properly prioritized for paving and repair.
And I’ll be a strong, consistent voice between our community and provincial partners, making sure rural concerns are heard, understood, and acted on. We need practical solutions. We need accountability. And we need results. I’m ready to bring my experience, my voice, and my commitment to Council—so we can move our rural community forward together.
Please vote May 11.
2. How would you achieve those priorities within your mandate?
I will do my best to work closely with our MLA and provincial partners through regular and as-needed meetings to ensure our rural and urban community’s voice is heard, respected, and acted upon.
3. How will you ensure transparency and accountability in council decisions and communication with residents?
With the decline of local newspapers and limited media coverage, there is a clear communication gap. I will advocate for a monthly mail-out to keep residents informed, improve transparency, and encourage input from both our rural and urban communities.
4. What is your approach to managing growth and development while preserving the character of the community?
I have 14 years of experience with the Southwest New Brunswick Service Commission (PRAC) Planning Review and Adjustment Committee along with a background in business and international strategic planning. I am ready to put that experience to work—focused on practical solutions, responsible growth, and a community that works for everyone.
5. What is your position on property taxes, and how would you balance affordability with maintaining services?
I’m often asked about taxes. Over the past three years, council has kept taxation fairly stable, and I intend to continue that approach. As a rural resident and councilor, my main concern is bringing a common-sense approach to home assessments. I want to represent my ward because I share the same concerns as my neighbors—and I will be closely monitoring this issue moving forward.
6. Why are you the best candidate to represent your ward, and what experience do you bring to the role?
I don’t believe in one person having all the answers—good leadership is about teamwork. I believe in synergy: when we work together, we get better results. With experience in project management, engineering, and international consulting, along with building and managing a year-round farmers’ market—I bring practical, real-world experience to the table.
Each candidate was provided with the same six questions and equal limits on response length and time. Candidates who did not have publicly available contact information through Elections New Brunswick were required to contact The Courier in accordance with its Municipal Election Coverage Fairness Policy. Candidates who did not respond or declined to participate are noted. Failure to participate will not result in additional coverage elsewhere in the newspaper.
