Eastern Charlotte At-Large Candidate: Adam R. Hatt
1. As candidates what would be your key priorities in the next four years?
I am committed to delivering clean, safe water for Blacks Harbour and Beaver Harbour. This is essential for public health, quality of life, and ensuring residents have reliable basic services.
I will continue to support development of affordable housing. Our community needs accessible,
sustainable options to retain families, support our workforce, and welcome new residents.
Strengthening public services remains a priority. From emergency response to community programs, we must ensure staff, volunteers, and residents can rely on efficient and responsive services. I believe in boots on the ground and focused on results on maintaining and growing our recreational spaces like parks, playgrounds, courts, trails, and beaches to name a few. These spaces support active living and community pride. Together, these priorities will help build a stronger, healthier, and more sustainable future for Eastern Charlotte. It’s about doing the work, making informed decisions, and continuing to move our community forward together.
2. How would you achieve those priorities in your mandate?
Achieving these priorities takes actions, partnerships, and accountability. For clean water in Blacks & Beaver Harbour, I will continue to work closely with the CAO, engineers, and all levels of government to keep the project moving, meet timelines, and ensure our community’s needs remain a priority. On affordable housing, I will support partnerships with developers, non-profits, and government to move practical, shovel-ready projects forward while reducing barriers and encouraging investment.
Strengthening public services requires responsible budgeting. I will continue supporting emergency services and community programs while seeking efficiencies to ensure long-term sustainability.
To support local businesses, I will promote a business-friendly environment by reducing red tape, improving communication, and working with owners to help them grow.
For recreation and beautification, I will prioritize maintenance and pursue grants and partnerships to enhance our spaces. Through strong communication and collaboration, we can deliver steady, meaningful results for our community.
3. How would you ensure transparency and accountability in council’s decision and communicate with residents?
I believe residents deserve to know what decisions are being made and why, with clear communication and not buried in reports.
I will continue to encourage regular updates through social media, community meetings, and informal opportunities for residents to ask questions and share concerns. People should never feel out of the loop about their own community.
Accountability also means being visible and approachable. I will remain present, listen to residents, and follow up on concerns not just during elections, but throughout my term.
I support setting clear priorities and tracking progress so residents can see what has been completed, what is underway, and what challenges exist.
Transparency also means honesty. When timelines change or things aren’t working, residents deserve to know.
Good governance is built on trust, and that trust comes from being open, accountable, and consistently engaged with the people we serve.
4. What is your approach to manage growth and develop well preserving the character of the community?
Planning is key to managing growth. It should be guided by clear, long-term plans that reflect residents’ values, including responsible zoning, protecting green spaces, and ensuring development fits the character of our communities wants and needs.
Infrastructure must keep pace. Whether it’s water, roads, housing, or public services, we need to ensure growth strengthens rather than strains our systems.
Community input is essential. Residents deserve a voice in how their neighbourhoods evolve. Listening early and often leads to more balanced decisions and helps avoid conflict.
At the same time, we must remain open to opportunity. Supporting local businesses, affordable housing, and recreational development can enhance our community without changing its identity. Preserving our character means protecting what people value most. Our strong sense of community, natural surroundings, and quality of life. While moving forward in a way that keeps Eastern Charlotte vibrant and sustainable for the future.
5. What is your position on property taxes? and how would you balance affordability and maintaining services?
I understand affordability is a real concern, especially with rising living costs. Any discussion about property taxes must recognize that many families are already stretched, while also acknowledging that these revenues fund essential services.
Balancing this requires responsible decision making. I would focus on controlling spending, finding efficiencies, and prioritizing what matters most to residents. Every dollar should be used wisely and transparently and like your own.
We also need to pursue provincial and federal funding to offset major project costs, so the burden doesn’t fall solely on local taxpayers.
Encouraging responsible growth is part of the solution. Supporting local businesses and development helps broaden the tax base, reducing pressure on individual property owners over time. My goal is to keep taxes stable and manageable while protecting the quality of services our community relies on and ensuring residents feel they are receiving real value without being overburdened.
6. Why are you the best candidate to represent your ward and what experience do you bring to the role?
I believe, I will bring both experience and a deep, ongoing commitment to our community as a councillor at large.
I have proudly served as a Councillor. Then as Deputy Mayor of the Village of Blacks Harbour and now Ward 4 Councillor in Eastern Charlotte. That experience has given me knowledge of how a council operates, from budgeting and infrastructure to working with all levels of government to move important projects forward.
Beyond titles, I’m someone who shows up. I’m present in the community. I listen and follow up. I don’t just speak for residents. I listen to understand their concerns and priorities.
Eastern Charlotte matters to me. I believe in collaboration and strong partnerships because there is no “I” in team. Only “We.”
I am as always and will remain accountable, approachable, and focused on results. I ask for your support in this election.
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.
