Ward 1

Join me and my fellow Ward 1 candidate for a Meet and Greet this coming Monday. Monday, April 20th from 5:30 to 7:30 pm in the Nashwaaksis Middle School cafeteria. Big thanks to Jessica at ASD-W for helping to secure the venue.  I am hoping to have one more event the following week. I will post when the venue is confirmed.

Today was a great day. I put up a few signs and visited some residents in Ward 1. So far what I'm hearing is that people in the amalgamated Douglas do not feel like anyone is listening to their needs and concerns. That's why I'm here. I am officially a candidate for Ward 1, and I look forward to meeting and chatting with more of you over the next few weeks. You can always reach out to me by email: heatheroconnellward1@gmail.com or on my Facebook page: Heather for Ward 1

I’ll be walking around your neighbourhoods this week, and I hope to have some good conversations. If I miss you, I’ll leave a bookmark at your door with my contact information. Who am I? I grew up in Douglas, and have lived in Fredericton for 52 of my 54 years. I’ve been with my husband for 26 years, and we have 5 kids and 2 grandkids (with another due any day!) I was a school teacher for 24 years. Then a stay-at-home mom. I was also a stay-at-home Grammy to my two grandsons for three years. My youngest graduated from high school last year. Throughout my life I have been a voracious reader and writer. I am a member of book clubs and writing groups. I read and review books on Bookstagram @jeatherhanereads and Goodreads. Last year I created a writing contest for unpublished writers, the Julia Stewart Memorial Short Story Contest , in memory of a good friend. Through it all, I have lived in Fredericton. I moved back to Douglas last year to retire, but something is calling me to r...

I will represent the needs and interests of the community. This means Ward 1 specifically, and the entire city collectively. I believe: Everyone deserves the right to live and enjoy their life, to have an affordable place to live and enough food to eat, to choose how they spend the money they earn, and to spend their time doing what they choose as long as it is not hurting others. If Council decisions are going to infringe on any of this, then I think it deserves thorough and transparent communication, consultation, and debate. We shouldn’t be surprised to find out that something has been enacted that affects our quality of life. We might not be happy about every decision, but we should at least understand the process and know who is accountable. As a City Councillor, I want to govern in a way that improves the lives of the people in our community. It’s worth the time and effort to be fully informed and to have hard discussions.

In the past five years: ~ The General Fund budget for the City of Fredericton has increased from $125.1 million to $184.8 million, or about 47%. ~ Property taxes collected by the city have increased from 110.6 million to 160.2 million or about 45%. ~ In 2023, when areas were amalgamated into the city, the property tax the city received increased by 23%. ~ Budgets in different departments have multiplied drastically. Just as an example: o    Composting increased by 435% o    By-law enforcement by 333% o    Leisure and Recreation increased by 267% o    Heritage increased by 137% When the tax base increases, that is a chance for the city to decrease the tax rate . A budget that is increasing at these rates is not indicative of a city that is facing budgetary pressures. It means that difficult budgetary decisions don’t have to be made. I don’t believe any budget needs to increase at the rate ours has. Things are being done backwards. Re...

I sat in on the Economic Prosperity and Growth Planning Committee meeting today, where the committee voted to delay the new proposed Heritage by-law until more public consultation is held. It’s always good news when Council takes the concerns of the public seriously. This issue directly affects housing affordability and property rights, so those affected deserve to have a voice.   How can City Council be accountable and transparent? -         Discuss public matters in public -         Make decisions about public matters in public -         Communicate effectively to the public what is being decided, where and when -         Don’t make decisions before engaging the public -         Budget responsibly and openly -         Don’t hand off accountability to consu...