'We're on the right track'
Election Mayor says economic development important priority as he seeks second term
SAINT JOHN - Editor's note: This is the fourth of a series of five profiles on the candidates in the Saint John mayoralty race.
It's difficult to imagine the word retiree being applied to Norm McFarlane.
The first-term mayor, who is running to retain his job in Monday's municipal election, is often in his office on the eighth floor of City Hall at the crack of dawn and he seldom gets to bed before midnight.
He's 72, but has the energy of a man half that age.
"I don't need very much sleep," he says. "I don't feel any different today than when I was 52. I have as much energy. My health is excellent and I expect to be here another 20 years. Age is only a number and it's never restricted me."
That's been apparent in recent weeks as the mayor has added door-to-door campaigning and debates and meetings onto an already very busy schedule.
He admits the he was a bit surprised by the hectic schedule that goes with being mayor, but says it has a lot to do with the way he approaches the job.
"I think the demands of the job are what you make them. You can sit here and hope that things happen or you can get out of the office and make things happen. I choose to get out there and try to make things happen."
McFarlane, who served as minister of labour and minister of training and employment in Lord's government, says his experience helped him during his first term at City Hall and his leadership is what should deliver a second term.
"I think leadership is extremely important and I've shown by my actions that I can be an effective leader," he said.
McFarlane says he's never shied away from subjects that were complicated or controversial. The city's pension plan and the controversy over the tax concessions for the LNG terminal are examples, he says.
"The pension plan is well on its way to the recovery that we need," he explained. "It's something that the previous council stayed away from. I would never duck any of those things. There's an obligation that you have to take on those things. You can't just throw something behind a door and ignore it.
"We hear a lot about the (tax concessions for the) LNG terminal. I still say that was the catalyst that started (the development of the energy hub). Would it be here if council hadn't accepted the deal? Some people say yes, some say no.
"What I do know is that we're getting $500,000 a year from them and we're getting $750,000 a year from the pipeline and there's no city services to either of them, They're completely service-free. The city doesn't supply water, sewage, roads, lights, anything. We're getting $1.25 million a year and we provide no service for it.
"That money helps us do other things in our budget."
McFarlane is clear that economic development is an important priority for him as the city moves forward.
"Economic development is important," he said. "If you run on a social program, you'll never get there. If you develop a strong economic program, you'll be able to generate money to pay for the social programs. We've seen our poverty rate drop from 28 per cent to 20.8 per cent. We've built 165 affordable housing units in Saint John ... it happened in the last four years.
"We're on the right track and a strong economy is very important. We just have to make sure it's sustainable," he said, noting it's important to diversify the economy beyond energy-related projects to include sectors such as retail, health and information technology.
The incumbent is locked in a hotly contested five-way race for the top job where most observers agree there are four front-runners.
He says he understands why others wants the job, but feels he's earned a second term at the helm.
"It's nice to want the job when things are going great," said McFarlane. "When things are really humming, everybody wants the job. It's under my leadership that we got these things going. We are on a great path now, but we have to make sure we don't falter.
"My sole aim in running for this office is to do what's good for Saint John. I've never made a decision that I didn't feel was in the best interests of the city of Saint John. The decisions have always been made for the betterment of the city.
"I will always do what's best for the citizens of Saint John."
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Norm's problem is that the train has left the station!
"Never shied away from?"
Why go behind clsed doors and do deals in secrecy if you aren't shying away from teh people who elected you?
Norm's ego has been his downfall.
He thinks he is smart.
We don't!
Yes I support Norm, for those of you who think campaign affiliation takes away truth from statements.
It's pretty simple, if you want the city to continue to grow, vote for Norm. If you want it to go back to the days of cuts to service and raising the tax rate, vote for the other four.