Political action helped former IAFF leaders win seats on Riverview and Fredericton councils following Monday’s elections.
Three retired IAFF leaders were successful in their bids for council seats following municipal elections in New Brunswick on May 11.
Voters in Riverview elected former Local 2549 presidents Glenn Miller and Dennis Woods to town council, while former Local 1053 President Blair Sullivan was elected to represent Ward 6 on Fredericton’s city council.
All three candidates received significant campaign support from their Locals in what turned out to be a clean sweep for IAFF candidates in the province.
Former Fredericton fire fighter unseats longtime incumbent
Sullivan, who retired from the fire service in 2025 after a 28-year career, centered his campaign on the need for transparency, better emergency services and other municipal priorities. He served on the Local 1053 Executive Board member for 20 years, including terms as president, vice-president, secretary-treasurer and sergeant-at-arms.
Local 1053 President Barry Durling was elated with Sullivan’s election, noting he defeated an 18-year incumbent who had voted against presumptive cancer measures for fire fighters.
“This win represents a crucial step forward for our community,” Durling said. “It is truly rewarding to finally have a seat at the council table instead of being on the menu.”
Sullivan received FIREPAC Canada support for his campaign, which was managed by Tyler McCready, a Local 1053 and Atlantic Provinces Professional Fire Fighters Association executive board member and graduate of the IAFF’s Communications Training Academy and Canadian Political Training Academy (CPTA).
It is truly rewarding to finally have a seat at the council table instead of being on the menu.
Fredericton NB Local 1053 president barry durling
Riverview election results strengthen IAFF-backed council support
In Riverview, both Miller and Woods campaigned on their records of public service and pledged to prioritize public safety and other emerging issues in the growing community. Miller, who also served as APPFFA president and is also a CPTA graduate, also received support from FIREPAC Canada.
The election results bode well for Local 2549, which now moves forward with a mayor and four councillors backed by the union. The Local hopes to build on recent improvements in fire department response capabilities under the new council.
Local 2549 President Tom Babineau said he was “quite happy” with the election results, adding the election of fire fighters in Riverview and Fredericton could influence municipal politics across the province. He also hopes the wins encourage other Locals to become more politically active.
“It just goes to show the power of political action, especially at the local level,” Babineau said. “Sometimes a little bit of hard work can go a long way.”
