Municipal Election 2026: Jim Campbell, Incumbent Candidate for Mayor

Join us for a special series of CAC: In Conversation, covering the 2026 Municipal Election in the Fundy Albert Region. 

In this conversation, we chat with Jim Campbell, Candidate for the position of Mayor.  

All candidates were given a list of potential questions at least 24 hours in advance of their interview and were asked the same questions. We have completed light editing for clarity, length, and sound quality. All views and opinions represented in the interviews are those of the interviewee and do not necessarily reflect those of Connecting Albert County. 

Connecting Albert County thanks our presenting sponsor, the Bennett & Albert County Healthcare Foundation.

For more information on Connecting Albert County, please go to our website or find us on Facebook or Instagram.

Transcript

SPEAKER_00 0:01

I'm Melody Land, coordinator of CAC. And today I'm here with Mayor Jim Campbell, who is running again in this election. So thank you, Jim, for being here with us.

SPEAKER_01 0:12

You're very welcome. And it's good to see you again.

SPEAKER_00 0:15

It is always good to have a chat with you, and I appreciate your availability to do this. So we're going to start just by getting to know you. I know you've served in the community for a while, but for those that may be less familiar or just getting themselves adjusted to the lay of the land of municipal politics, can you tell us a little bit about yourself?

SPEAKER_01 0:36

I grew up in Riverside Albert in uh good in the good old days before all the technology that we have today, and it was a pretty simple life. It was great. As I got into my teen years, I uh I uh thought that um being away from uh this place was the right thing to do. And uh I although I never went far, I've always New Brunswick's been in my heart and in Albert County. Um it wasn't, I think, until I uh was married and had children and started bringing them down to see my dad and going to Fundy Park in New Orleans, and I realized how beautiful a place we have and how much it meant to me. So um 26 years ago, um we sold our home in Lower Coverdale and uh moved to Riverside Albert back home. And uh Audrey and I have been here ever since. So um I got involved in the community. We've always been volunteer people. Um I was uh one of the original CCRCs um founding members. We got it going, and uh um I'm the one of the founding members of the Albert County Trail Bayers, the ATV Club. Um so uh my wife and I both are been volunteering the community always, and uh yeah, that's a little bit.

SPEAKER_00 2:08

Amazing. And so how have you um like your professional background? How has that? I alluded to the fact that you've been serving as mayor. Um, can you tell us a little bit about your time doing that?

SPEAKER_01 2:21

Yeah, I um I ran for and was successful in uh mayor of Riverside Albert, and um I guess I did uh seven uh eight years there before regionalization, and uh uh we were successful in doing some good things, um some water projects that we got done for Riverside Albert that were beneficial in helping us uh grow a bit. And uh um I chose not to run in in the um regionalization after that in the fundy Albert election and did some other things. Um and then there was a by-election held when the former mayor um stepped away and uh I was uh I was successful in uh I've been I guess 12 months, be 12 months in May since uh since that time. Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 3:20

Okay. So how would you describe your leadership style and um how have you demonstrated that in the past?

SPEAKER_01 3:31

Wow. Um I guess a little bit of my background was uh I got into management at Hub Meatpackers, um a former meatpacking uh company in Moncton. Um had a lot of employees at that time. Um the the family that owned it were great teachers. They taught us a lot about uh um not wasting money and um being frugal. Um tried to follow that in my own lifestyle. Um yeah, and um went on to work for a major uh truck manufacturer. Uh trucking's always been part of my life and uh important to me. I I still look at the 18-wheelers when the when I'm on the highway and uh think about the good old days. But uh yeah, I um ended up as a general manager of a truck dealership. So I've had a quite a varied career, but mostly uh in the trucking industry.

SPEAKER_00 4:36

And when you are leading um council, for instance, recruit project, how do you do that?

SPEAKER_01 4:44

How do I do that? First, I like to hear what council has to say. I think it's important that everybody has a voice. Um, I'm certainly not a dictator. Um I um like to interject if I feel that um maybe they're not going the direction I agree with, not trying to force them into anything. I I don't believe in that. Um open conversation, understanding each other. Um like to um I like to uh uh hope everybody stays calm and uh respectful. Um we're we're here to work for the betterment of our community and the people that we serve. And we and that's basically it. We're serving the community.

SPEAKER_00 5:35

Great. Thank you for that. We know that with the amalgamation, and we will talk about that a little bit more in our conversation, um, there has been conflict, but anytime you put a group of people together, there's going to be disagreement and conflict. It can be a difficult thing, but it can also be really important. How do you handle and navigate conflict in this type of environment?

SPEAKER_01 5:58

Wow. Um it's uh it's never an easy thing to manage. Uh each each incident is different and has to be handled a bit different. Um sometimes you have to bang the gavel a little bit and uh and uh say everybody needs to take a deep breath and think about what they're talking about and uh calm down a bit. Um we've been fairly fortunate. Um, we've not had a lot of issues. I wouldn't say there's none because I that wouldn't be right, but uh but overall we seem to um have been able to overcome most of them and and continue on what we're here for.

SPEAKER_00 6:44

Awesome. Thank you. So moving into your why of running in this election. Um, you've mentioned you have a wide history and a long history of serving your community in this way. Why did you decide to run in this particular municipal election?

SPEAKER_01 7:01

In this one? Um, I think there's uh the main reason is um I believe that we have started to uh pull our community together a bit. Um it's a um it's a work in progress. Um I I feel that um my leadership and the ability to work with council has moved us forward somewhat. It's it's a long way to go. We we've taken uh three communities and multiple LSDs, moved them into one community, and when you drive out of Riverview, you're in Fundy Albert, and when you exit Alma, you're just leaving Fundy Albert and the backcountry, and to try and unite that big of an area into one community is is a major, major job. Um I just uh hope that we can continue what what's happened in the last year, the communication between counselors, although it looks like we're going to, well, we're sure we're gonna have some new counselors because three for sure have stepped away. And uh we lost one counselor who uh was transferred out of ward one and uh ended up in another province. So uh so we're gonna have a a new council and hopefully that I can uh be part of that council and and uh bring us closer together.

SPEAKER_00 8:40

Okay. So how have you been preparing as you've been hitting the uh the election trail? How have you been preparing to run for office this time through? Any differences from previous times?

SPEAKER_01 8:52

No, not really. I think it's uh matter of getting the getting the word out, um, get a campaign built. I'm just starting to do that. Um although I had things in my mind, uh, you know, got a couple of announcements out, one that I was going to run and once that I got my papers, but we'll get some social media things out and uh I'll probably uh do a few other things to keep my name out there. We're gonna do some uh meet the candidate nights. Uh I've been talking to a few people about when and where. Uh so looking forward to those. It's always good to get in front of the people and and tell them what you're thinking and and hear their questions. And yeah.

SPEAKER_00 9:35

For sure. Super. So speaking of um campaign issues, do you have a platform developed yet? If so, if you want to share it with us, or if not, what do you feel are the most pressing issues that are facing um the new council coming in that you'd like to address?

SPEAKER_01 9:54

Well, there's a lot of them. Finding money is um is one of the biggest issues because the former municipalities all have streets that need repair, and uh that's an expensive process to go through. Um really want to try and hold the tax rate um to uh um to the level it's at now. Uh I don't know uh to see it go backwards. I'm not sure that that can be done and keep the services the way they are, but that's something that we'll look at for sure. Um uh water and sewer for the former municipalities. Um Alma is gone going through theirs right now. There's a major project that's just going to come online hopefully this month. Uh Riverside Albert needs to have some uh uh work done on their reservoir. Um, we need to continue to look at at new sources to be available. So uh there's a lot of things to do. Our uh recreation facilities um always need love.

SPEAKER_00 11:06

And uh a question coming back from the constituents is about time. And we know that serving your community through municipal government can be incredibly time consuming. There are multiple meetings per month, various times of the day and evening, as well as community events, boards, and other projects. Can you speak to any concerns that voters might have about how you manage your time and how available you will be to serve your constituents?

SPEAKER_01 11:31

Well, I guess um one of the fortunate things um is I am retired, supposedly. I haven't done that well. I've uh always taken on challenges. Um uh I have the time to put in. I have been available uh I guess seven days a week, and uh and uh with the exception of maybe uh a few holidays, I've disappeared for a couple or three days. But yeah, I have the time. The past year, um not every month, but there have been months where I've attended in the in the 2218 um type meetings. Uh, when you break that down, you'll find there's quite a few hours, and that doesn't include the other day-to-day stuff. So it's very time consuming if you want to put your best foot forward and and be there.

SPEAKER_00 12:27

So earlier this year, there were a lot of discussion around um mandatory training for municipal counselors as well as the availability of that training and that sort of thing. Are you for or against required training? And have you done any of the training that's been offered thus far?

SPEAKER_01 12:47

Um thus far, there's been min minimal training. Uh, we've been I've been to a couple of sessions uh where they're available. Um Southeast Regional Service Commission has done a couple, and there's been uh believe an online with the province. Um it looks like there's going to be some sessions. I believe one is in St. John shortly after the election, uh, a couple of days. Uh, though there certainly will be, I think the Southeast is talking about doing some things. So yeah, I I think it really helps us to understand the mandate of the municipal act. It's kind of like many, many uh accent that the federal and provincial governments put out. It's it's it's quite a read. It's many, many pages, and uh yeah.

SPEAKER_00 13:40

Okay. But yes, all I'm for the training, absolutely. For the training. Awesome. Um, speaking of some of those policies, the New Brunswick Local Governance Act is the primary legislation that governs municipalities, rural communities, and regional districts. And following the reforms that happened in January of 2023, there were some key updates. Are you familiar with the NB Local Governance Act? And if so, to what level?

SPEAKER_01 14:09

I am familiar. I'm not an expert. Uh, I'll be perfectly honest. Um, I I do understand how council works, I understand what the act says about being in council, uh what our limits are, um, what the council itself um that that worked with the mayor, what their limits are. Um, but that's where this training will will come in and and and bring us all up. Um I will uh say that we have a clerk who's very knowledgeable and um keeps us in line, uh keeps reminding us when we get led astray a little bit.

SPEAKER_00 14:54

So it's good to have a team, right? Teamwork makes the dream work. Teamwork makes the dream. Definitely. So moving into some issues and concerns from the community. So, as you know, we have um opened up our inbox and I've had people stop by and ask questions that they'd like shared with candidates that are running. Right. We'll move into some of those now. Uh the first has to do with transparency and conflicts of interest, and then we go into some just different files that the uh municipality holds. So the first um, as I mentioned, does center around transparency and conflicts of interest. There have been many public conversations around this, and particularly in regards to local council perceived conflicts of interest that have occurred around decision making of counselors. What is your response to the public's concern about this in general?

SPEAKER_01 15:56

Well, conflict of an interest is a tough one because sometimes people believe that it's a conflict and possibly it is. I don't know if we've had any this past year since I've been mayor, really. Um I try to make sure that that when we have a meeting that everybody understands if they are in conflict and to step aside. Um but it's a delicate, it's a delicate, it's a delicate thing because we have to be very careful. Sometimes you don't even realize you're in conflict, as still as that sounds, but uh I mean major major things you do. If you own property in the and you're on council and you're selling it to the community, then you have to be very careful how that proceeds, those type of things. So yeah.

SPEAKER_00 16:52

Okay. So if you are the successful candidate, how do you hold yourself transparent and avoid conflicts of interest? And in particular, how will you institutionalize transparency and account and accountability in your municipal work?

SPEAKER_01 17:09

Well, I guess for personally, I um not sure where the conflict would come. I don't run a business. I'm uh he said I'm retired and uh I'm very conscious of how I act, I try to behave, and uh council needs to hold themselves at a high standard and be very cautious of how they approach things.

unknown 17:31

Okay.

SPEAKER_00 17:32

I don't know if that answers your question, but so moving into some specific files, um, topical files around nature and environmental concerns. The village of Funde Albert has a lot of resources, but perhaps the most obvious is our connection to the natural environment. This connection is so profound, it's highlighted in our tagline, friendly by nature. We are also part of the UNESCO Funday Biosphere Region, which is a huge and globally significant designation. How do you see the municipality's role in maintaining, managing, and utilizing our natural resources?

SPEAKER_01 18:11

The the natural resources that we have, we have to protect because the three former municipalities all draw water. And and if we don't have the forest around those areas, we're not going to have a good supply of water. Um, and I think one good example is uh the Riverside Albert um watershed, uh, the Arabian Vault. It was um when I was mayor of Riverside Albert, we worked with the Nature Conservancy, and uh a huge parcel of land in that area was conserved, and last summer showed that it worked, uh, because uh God willing, and somehow the the springs and the small streams held enough to get us through that uh extreme dry spell. So we have to be um very careful about where we cut and what we cut, and uh I'm I'm concerned about that.

SPEAKER_00 19:15

Okay. So do you feel that that's something the municipality really needs to take a lead on as far as advocacy or I guess what parameters can the municipality do to do that?

SPEAKER_01 19:30

Well, there's two things. One is we have to make sure that we protect the land that that we need um to uh protect us with water and resources, but also how how do we find that high line fine line um where industry can still function and and provide jobs and and keep us uh keep people working.

unknown 19:58

Right.

SPEAKER_00 19:59

Okay. And specifically a question that has come up in is around the spraying of glycophate um in our communities or in our our region, I should say, perhaps. Uh, where do you stand on that issue?

SPEAKER_01 20:15

I don't have the scientific um uh resources to understand what damage it's doing to humans and animals, but I'm totally against it. There's no question. And I've made that uh quite clear to industry. I know that they're probably doing everything by the book. Well, not probably, I know they are. They're they're professional people, but uh that stuff, uh I don't know. It scares me. And we've had health problems from residents, so I guess before I no, I I don't like it at all.

SPEAKER_00 20:58

Okay, thank you. Fair, fair. Moving into the housing poverty and cost of living situation, there is always a lot of discussion around challenges of living. The cost of living has a huge impact on residents of our village. Precarious housing is a problem in our region. So some statistics suggest that there is a hugely significant number of our residents that are within two paychecks at being risk of homelessness or being displaced. There is an increased use of food banks and other food security resources, and so on and so forth. I don't need to go into all the details of that. Um how have you or how will you use the full range of the municipality's tools and resources to increase access to things like affordable housing, to reduce or eliminate homelessness, increase food security, or in general have a positive effect on any area of poverty reduction?

SPEAKER_01 21:57

Um we've um already started. working with uh a group called fundy housing about developing some um housing um that would be geared um uh for the uh for people maybe whose resources aren't the same as others uh that need uh help with housing um we've met with uh provincial ministers that that's something we have started and will continue to do um throughout the years meet with the provincial ministers so they know fundy albert's here and find ways that we can work closer with them developers shy away from developing major projects in small areas uh they tend to go to the urban where they can build huge buildings and um but we have had a little bit of a success uh through fundy albert getting a few people to come and build um and uh i believe there's uh others that are are considering so hopefully we can grow on that and and bring more development here thank you and and moving from that type of development it is connected to the economic development of our region what do you see as the municipal council's role in regards to economic development i think we're we can play a big role and and uh we've talked about that our our cao that we have is uh has a background in economic development and as we move future in the future uh we'd like to find ways to bring more development here our tourism uh industry is a a big provider of employment um but there there has to be something maybe through the winter months through the the whole year that that could bring employment here uh seasonal is uh is good in a lot of ways but uh if you can work year round uh gives you a little better lifestyle I think okay so what do you think are the best ways to grow our community uh keep promoting us that we're a great place to live uh we've got a lot to offer um our people are um welcoming um our lifestyle in the rural is a little different you know if you in the winter months when you live in in Riverside Albert or Alma you if you want to go out to dinner uh uh you may have to make a trip to the city but uh a little bit more population and that could change moving into arts culture and history how do you or do you think art culture and the historic history files add value to the municipality? Our history is pretty important and it's pretty impressive what we've had over the years um I um when you look back at the shipbuilding that we had here in the in the lumbering industry that they cut the lumber they built the ships with it then they loaded the ships with the lumber and sailed them around the world and brought back goods for trade um it's amazing uh the Akkadian history um that that we had in our area up till 1755 um I mean that's those those things are are are something a lot of people come here for to understand what what happened and uh how the world's changed and yeah I it's really important.

SPEAKER_00 25:50

Okay. So what do you see are the most important ways the municipality can engage with this file? Maybe things like strategic planning policy investment uh programming you know so on and so forth as far as the history goes as far as arts culture and history yes I guess stay involved and understand what's going on and promote it and help promote it.

SPEAKER_01 26:17

We've got a wonderful little museum in Oakland uh we've got a railroad museum we've got um I'm not sure what's gonna happen with Cape and Ridge a historic site there um yeah but the municipality can work with those groups and help do you see any space for financial investment similar to what you would see at bigger city centers like Moncton owning Resergo and that sort of thing um if we had the resources and you have to remember where our resources come from each taxpayer but yes I I think somehow we be we should be able to try and find some ways to help I I can't spend money right now that's fair um moving into comments on infrastructure we know that roads especially this time of year we talk a lot about roads are always a concern um but with three municipalities amalgamating that also means a lot more infrastructure to cover both in buildings and roads and all sorts of things how have you or how will you utilize the range of the municipalities tools and resources in managing maintaining or improving important municipal infrastructure or even developing new projects or initiatives well I think we spoke a little bit earlier about the streets um grants we need to find grants for uh you know funding through the federal and provincial government for roads and streets um the provincial government still maintains the numbered highways um those are all done through the province um the municipal streets um are our responsibility in some some areas um we need to uh uh we need to be lobbying government all continuously for help to to get the municipal streets done and the provincial government to do better on the roads which we're doing uh we we're hard on the we meet with uh the engineers at dti from moncton uh uh we've met with them um in the fall and we'll probably meet again this spring after the election we'll I'm sure whoever's in will bring them in and talk about where we are I do understand there is going to be some road work in in uh our area this summer um but we need a lot more we need to lobby federal and provincial governments to to make the Route 114 uh tourism corridor so that we can uh there's funding that comes with that that can help us fix this road so our tour tourists get and locals our own residents get a better road to drive on but that those are things that have to be worked on they won't come easy.

SPEAKER_00 29:34

Okay thank you we talked a little bit already about amalgamation and um your experience in working through some of these processes regardless of our individual feelings or council's individual feelings we are living with the consequences of this action how do you approach challenges related to this experience and how do you serve the greater community of Funde Albert all the way from the edge of Riverview to Alma and everywhere in between one of the hardest education to to make people really understand that they are in a large village right now that they're not that we're not many like three former villages and I'm not sure the exact number of LSDs but there was quite a few I mean you you that we're one and we have to work together and we have to find ways to be one and help us all grow I believe that um education and continually trying to talk to people that you are part of Fundy Albert um I think one of the best champions of that has been uh nursing home without walls they're bringing people from Lower Coverdale to Elma together for different things.

SPEAKER_01 31:03

I realize that's a seniors group but they're very important and uh and they're um mixing more and they're they're people from Elma are going to Hillsbow in Lower Coverdale and vice versa to to mix. So that's how you bring a community together and it's going to take a long time.

unknown 31:25

Okay.

SPEAKER_01 31:27

So wrapping up is there anything we haven't covered that you would want municipal residents to know about you and your bid in this election just I'm a long-term resident I care uh got the time and I'm um I'm committed to do the best I can and that's what I can offer the best I can I've got a background in municipal government I've got a background in management and I've got uh I've got a supportive wife who's standing behind me um and saying that I guess it's okay if you do this Jim and uh and uh that's that's pretty important to me that Audrey's with me and all I can only offer the best I got whatever I've got it's it's coming for the community and that's that's all I can say I I love it here and I'm not going anywhere and I like my little corner I spent uh from 2018 to 2024 at Cape and Rage and uh was one of the highlights of my career was being able to work there and manage it. A lady that was the manager there was at the house one day and she said I'm looking for an interpretive guide at Cape and Rage and I said oh what do they do and she said they talk to people and I said that might be a good job. So I ended up going out there. So I care.

SPEAKER_00 32:57

That's a really I think great way to uh wrap up this conversation thank you so much Jim for the time that you've taken part of what Connecting Albert County tries to do is truly connect people from one edge of our uh community to the other and share information and educate and I think our one of our biggest goals is to help people um engage with the election process and get to know who they're voting for and why they're voting for it. So thank you for your time and helping us achieve that end. So this is to wrap up is Melody from Connecting Albert County in conversation we will be back again with more interviews on the 2026