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Aaron Kennedy
Kennedy in 2024
Member of the New Brunswick Legislative Assembly
for Quispamsis
Incumbent
Assumed office
October 21, 2024
Preceded byBlaine Higgs
Personal details
Born1969 or 1970 (age 54–55)
Oromocto, New Brunswick
Political partyLiberal

Aaron Kennedy is a Canadian sports journalist and politician, who was elected to the Legislative Assembly of New Brunswick in the 2024 general election. He defeated Blaine Higgs in the riding of Quispamsis, who had been serving in that riding since 2010 and as Premier of New Brunswick since 2018.[1]

Kennedy previously worked for the town of Quispamsis, where in 2011 he began serving as the town's communications manager. In July 2021, Kennedy began serving as the interim chief administrative officer; his term finished in August 2024 after his role was succeeded by a permanent hire and he pursued the Liberal nomination for the 2024 election.[2]

Early life and career

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Aaron Kennedy was born in 1969 or 1970 and is originally from Oromocto, New Brunswick. He graduated from the Confederation College in Thunder Bay, Ontario, where he studied radio broadcasting. Kennedy began working as a news and sportscaster for Fredericton radio stations CIHI-FM and CKHJ before writing for the Oromocto Post-Gazette and The Daily Gleaner.[3] In September 1994, he was hired as the voice of the Saint John Flames for the radio station CFBC,[4] where he worked until 2000 when he was hired by the Saint John Times Globe as its American Hockey League beat reporter.[5]

Political career

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Kennedy first ran for the New Brunswick Liberal Association in the riding of Quispamsis during the 2018 general election. He was defeated by Progressive Conservative leader Blaine Higgs,[6] who became the premier of New Brunswick after the Progressive Conservatives formed government.[7][8]

On June 28, 2024, Kennedy was again nominated as the Liberal candidate in the Quispamsis riding for the 2024 general election, running against Higgs again as well as provincial New Democratic Party leader Alex White.[2] Kennedy was endorsed by Quispamsis mayor Libby O'Hara, who had a previous track record of supporting and campaigning for Higgs,[9] and was further endorsed by former Progressive Conservative cabinet minister Brenda Fowlie.[10] Kennedy narrowly defeated Higgs by 193 votes,[11] in what was considered by some as being an upset.[12] On November 1, 2024, it was announced that he was placed on the cabinet as Minister of Local Government and Minister responsible for Service New Brunswick.[13]

Electoral record

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Quispamsis

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2024 New Brunswick general election
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Aaron Kennedy 3,860 46.5
Progressive Conservative Blaine Higgs 3,667 44.1
Green Andrew Conradi 378 4.6
New Democratic Alex White 360 4.3 +3.09
Independent David Raymond Amos 42 0.5
Total valid votes 8,307
Total rejected ballots
Turnout
Eligible voters
Liberal gain Swing
Source: Elections New Brunswick[14]
2018 New Brunswick general election
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Progressive Conservative Blaine Higgs 4,691 56.87 +5.52
Liberal Aaron Kennedy 2,078 25.19 -6.41
People's Alliance Keith Porter 795 9.64 +8.13
Green Mark Woolsey 445 5.40 +2.25
New Democratic Ryan Jewkes 239 2.90 -9.50
Total valid votes 8248 100.0  
Total rejected ballots 13 0.16
Turnout 8261 69.89
Eligible voters 11,820
Progressive Conservative notional gain Swing +5.97
Source: Elections New Brunswick[14]

References

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  1. ^ D'Andrea, Aaron (October 21, 2024). "N.B. votes 2024: Higgs loses own riding as PCs take devastating election blow". Global News. Retrieved October 21, 2024.
  2. ^ a b Bates, Andrew (July 18, 2024). "New Quispamsis CAO to start in August; Assistant deputy minister of health Ian Watson brings 'wealth of knowledge' to CAO role: mayor". Telegraph-Journal. p. A2. ProQuest 3082422202. Retrieved October 22, 2024.
  3. ^ Janes, Brad (September 19, 1994). "It'll be baptism by fire for new Flames' radio play-by-play man". Telegraph-Journal. p. 45. Retrieved October 22, 2024.
  4. ^ "Saint John Flames get a new voice". Telegraph-Journal. September 7, 1994. p. 28. Retrieved October 22, 2024.
  5. ^ Ryan, Carolyn (August 23, 2000). "Flames' voice Kennedy joins Times Globe team". Saint John Times Globe. p. 1. Retrieved October 22, 2024.
  6. ^ Mott, Sean (October 21, 2024). "'My future has been decided': Blaine Higgs loses seat as party falls in N.B. election". CTV Atlantic. Retrieved October 21, 2024.
  7. ^ Poitras, Jacques (November 2, 2018). "Brian Gallant's minority government defeated after losing confidence vote". CBC News. Retrieved July 2, 2019.
  8. ^ Poitras, Jacques (November 9, 2018). "8 things you need to know about New Brunswick's next premier, Blaine Higgs". CBC News. Retrieved July 22, 2019.
  9. ^ Simpson, Barbara (October 10, 2024). "Quispamsis mayor, formerly Higgs supporter, now backing Liberals; Town council scraps unpaid leave policy ahead of Kennedy's campaign". Telegraph-Journal. p. A9. ProQuest 3115227049. Retrieved October 21, 2024.
  10. ^ "Another former PC minister backs Liberals". CBC News. September 24, 2024. Retrieved October 21, 2024.
  11. ^ Magee, Shane (October 21, 2024). "Blaine Higgs loses seat, 'extremely unlikely' to remain as leader". CBC News. Retrieved October 22, 2024.
  12. ^ Huras, Adam (October 21, 2024). "Liberals win majority in N.B., Holt becomes first female premier". Telegraph-Journal. Retrieved October 22, 2024.
  13. ^ Waugh, Andrew (November 1, 2024). "Susan Holt unveils 19-person cabinet". Telegraph-Journal. Retrieved November 1, 2024.
  14. ^ a b "Provincial Election Results". Elections New Brunswick. February 5, 2014.
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