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SAINT JOHN - A city craving change embraced a new mayor on Monday night, with Saint John voters endorsing longtime councillor Ivan Court by a wide margin.

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Noel Chenier/Telegraph-Journal

Saint John Deputy Mayor Michelle Hooton is applauded by her supporters as she conceeded to Ivan Court in the race for mayor at her headquarters Monday evening.

A former commercial fisherman, stevedore and retired school teacher, Court easily outdistanced councillor John Ferguson, deputy mayor Michelle Hooton, incumbent Norm McFarlane and Michael Richardson, turning what was supposed to have been a squeaker into a slam-dunk.

Swept into office along with his younger brother Bruce, the top vote-getter in the city's new fourth ward, the mayor-elect will be joined by a number of new faces in chambers: including Joe Mott, Donnie Snook, Carl Killen and Gary Sullivan. Councillors who retained seats included at-large candidates Stephen Chase and Chris Titus, Peter McGuire Bill Farren and Carl White. The former deputy mayor under Shirley McAlary, White won a seat in the new Ward 2 by only one vote over Patty Higgins, the daughter of the late Saint John Mayor Tom Higgins.

"Bruce and myself are going to work for the betterment of the people in Saint John," a jubilant Ivan Court said at his raucous headquarters in Brunswick Square, his three grandnieces leaping into his arms. "We are going to help all citizens, not just a few.

"We grew up the hard way, on the Old North End, and we learned the value of hard work. Nothing came easy."

Wed for 37 happy years to a woman named Bliss, Court employed the slogan "There is a Better Way" during his campaign. Voters agreed to give him that chance resoundingly. At the same time, they rejected one-term mayor McFarlane, who fell into disfavour by giving Irving Oil's liquefied natural gas facility a sweetheart deal on taxes, and for stifling discussion over a proposed justice centre in the city's core.

"Things are going great in Saint John right now,'' said McFarlane, a former Tory MLA who ousted McAlary in the last mayoral election. "The economy is going great, and I think the pride is back in Saint John.

"But whatever the people decide, that's the way it should be. If I have to turn the reins over to anyone, I think Ivan is the best one."

The loss was a disappointment to Hooton, a businesswoman who often found herself at odds with the mayor. Once a rising star on the city's political map, Hooton lost to Liberal Ed Doherty in a by-election for Elizabeth Weir's seat in the legislature, and ran a distant third to Court.

"I feel I ran a very positive, progressive campaign, and I ran for all the right reasons,'' Hooton said. "I have loved serving as deputy mayor, and it's been an honour to be in public service.

"But the sun will come up tomorrow."

Sued by 12 members of the city's pension board over comments he made about the plan's management, Ferguson finished second. At a time when voters were complaining that the mayor and council discussed issues of critical importance behind closed doors, Ferguson promised to open up government operations to more scrutiny.

He was disappointed in the defeat, but said he had considered the possibility before deciding to enter the mayor's race.

The first in his family to break the blue-collar cycle, Court worked on the Princess of Acadia ferry in Saint John while completing courses at St. Thomas University. Besides being a teacher at St. Malachy's Memorial High School for 33 years, he also once fished for salmon, gaspereau and shad in Saint John Harbour.

A fellow who appeals to ordinary voters, he ran away with what was supposed to be a close race.

"The bottom line is that you don't have to be something you're not,'' Court said. "Anything is possible if you believe in yourself."

Marty Klinkenberg is a contributing editor of the Telegraph-Journal. He can be reached at martyklinkenberg@hotmail.com.