Council candidate runs paperless campaign

SAINT JOHN - Craig Allen figures he'll hand out some 4,000 apples before the May 12 municipal election - an apple a day keeps the garbage away.

Allen is running a paperless campaign with no flyers or campaign signs. He's placing stickers on apples that direct people to his web page and his platform. For Allen, it's a matter of leading by example.

"It's not only an environmental message, but it's a message of less waste," said Allen.

"It's sort of a new approach to looking at things in the city."

Breathing life into the uptown and making sure that all residents benefit and aren't left behind is also an important issue for Allen.

"We have a lot of the shopping and a lot of the business, but we also have some of the poorer neighbourhoods as well. We also have the valuable heritage properties and the waterfront so you've really got all aspects of the spectrum."

Allen is running in Ward 3.

"I'd like to see an increased access to recreational facilities and parks," Allen said. "And also encourage festivals and cultural events."

Among his issues are attracting new residents, encouraging small business growth, poverty reduction, finding balance between heritage and development, keeping drinking water in public hands and affordable housing.

Allen says the fire department needs the resources restored that have fallen victim to years of budget cuts. He said he has met with firefighters and they are concerned they've been spread too thin.

A graduate of UNB and New Brunswick Community College, Allen is currently the director of marketing at Evolving Solutions, a local web development firm. A music lover, he also enjoys fly fishing, cooking and downhill skiing.

"Actions speak a lot louder than words," he said of his paperless campaign. "By showing people that there is a different way to do things, hopefully they'll realize that will reflect on my time on council."

Story by Jeff Ducharme. As published in the Telegraph Journal.