Stephen LeBlanc
Your Candidate for Mayor of Arcadia 2026
“Working for affordability and transparency”
About My Campaign
Welcome to the website for Steve LeBlanc, your candidate for Mayor of Arcadia for 2026 where you will find my thoughts and ideas as to how to move Arcadia forward over the next four years and what I think best serves the residents of Arcadia and what we should be doing, as a municipality, moving forward.
I hope you take the time to read though all of the platform and hope to see you out on May 11, 2026, voting for change. If we do not advocate for change, change will not happen. I have lived in Ward 2 (Village of Gagetown) since 2016. I'm not a politician; never have been. I'm just a resident of Arcadia tired of rising costs, rising taxes and being "squeezed" every which way. I want to try and make a difference and alleviate the financial burden on all of the residents of Arcadia by reducing unnecessary spending, putting an end to unnecessary projects and ensuring that the millions spent every year by Arcadia are for goods and services that are needed and truly benefit all Arcadians and most importantly, lessen the financial burden that the municipality has and continues to place on us.
Simply stated, I want to set forth on a path that sees a reduction in spending, which ultimately "paves a road" to much needed tax relief for all residents of Arcadia. The Province and the Municipality cannot rely continuously on the residents for more and more money.
Recent news from both the Federal and Provincial governments causes great concern. Canada post is struggling financially. There has been talk of possibly closing of rural post office; like what we have in Gagetown, Cambridge Narrows and Youngs Cove. These are vital to the continued growth and success of small rural municipality. While these decisions are federally made, counsel can advocate to our local MP and directly to the Minister responsible to advocate for these post offices to remain.
Provincially, there is talk of closing smaller rural schools with less than 100 students. The Gagetown School is just above that threshold. Cambridge-Narrows school is well above that threshold. The loss of the K-8 school in Gagetown would be catastrophic. Families with young children have moved to the area because of the school. They do not want to bus their children an hour or more elsewhere.
The loss of this school will have a long-lasting detrimental effect on not only Gagetown proper, but outlying area as well. Council needs to advocate to both the MLA and Minister of Education to ensure this school stays.
Post offices and schools are fundamental to small communities like Arcadia. They have to stay.
Lastly, we need to find ways to enhance recreational and cultural opportunities for all Arcadians of every age. This only enhances the standard of living for all. Fiscal sensibility/ responsibility does not mean sacrifices to recreational and cultural opportunities. We need a better way to communicate with all residents of Arcadia. Not all residents necessarily have the internet, or are a part of Facebook or other social media sites. We have no community newspapers at all. We have to explore “non-digital” methods in which to covey the news to all of our residents.
My Priorities
Fiscal Responsibility
Get our financial house in order, eliminate unnecessary and unwarranted expenditures and address the debt we have been saddled with. This doesn't mean cuts to recreation, culture and other essential services.
Tax Relief
Alleviate the tax burden on each and every resident of Arcadia. Amalgamation has made us one family. Everyone needs relief. Everyone deserves a break. Relief has to come from the Municipality as it's unlikely to come from anywhere else, anytime soon.
Transparency
Arcadia functions because of one thing; the monies you and I, as residents and taxpayers, contribute, in the form of municipal taxes. It is OUR money; it is OUR budget. Residents should be fully informed as to where the money is being spent and what the mayor and council want to spend our money on.
If I am fortunate enough to be entrusted with your support, as Mayor, I can only guide and set the tone for council. To truly affect change, we need a like-minded council that has the same goals and vision for Arcadia.
Please question all candidates running and express to them what YOU want done with YOUR money. I appreciate you taking the time to read through this and hope you get an understanding as to what I want to try to accomplish as mayor. I want to grow the community, but not at your expense.
I can't work miracles, but I can tell you that my focus as mayor will be to try and make your lives a bit easier. You deserve that. Please come to any of the planned meetings for all candidates where you can ask your questions, tell me and others what you want your Mayor and Council to do for you for the next 4 years. Thank you again!