Nicolle Carlin, who has worked as spokesperson for Premier Blaine Higgs since 2018, has announced she is seeking the Progressive Conservative nomination in Fredericton South-Silverwood.

It's the same riding where Liberal Leader Susan Holt plans to run in the next election, which is scheduled for October.

Carlin said she resigned from her job as deputy minister of strategic initiatives and communications on Monday to campaign full time.

"I've been very fortunate. I do have a strong voice at the table and the premier's put a lot of faith in me and he's allowed me to be vocal," Carlin said in an interview with Radio-Canada.

"I loved serving in my job, but this is completely different. When you have people you are speaking for, when you are taking their issues to heart, when you're advocating for them, that's a completely different responsibility."

Carlin said she wasn't recruited by the PC Party and the decision to run was hers alone.

Stands with Higgs on Policy 713

Carlin has previously been a municipal councillor in Hanwell and worked as a reporter for both CTV Atlantic and CBC New Brunswick.

When asked, she said she stands with Higgs on the issue of Policy 713, the gender-identity school policy his government changed last summer. 

The revised Policy 713 requires that school staff obtain parental consent before letting a student under 16 adopt a new name or pronoun that reflects their gender identity.

"I do stand with the premier on 713, and I don't think that there is a line between being progressive and supporting the role that parents play," Carlin said.

Liberal Leader Susan Holt, shown here at the recent Liberal nomination meeting for Hampton-Fundy-St. Martins, is running for a seat in Fredericton South-Silverwood. (Sam Farley/CBC News)

She said children should feel welcome in their schools and classrooms, but parents should be involved with elementary-aged kids transitioning and using a different name and pronouns.

"I'm very progressive. I'm a progressive in my views, I'm a Progressive Conservative and I stand with the premier on that issue, 100 per cent," Carlin said.

In an emailed statement, Liberal Leader Susan Holt said she welcomes Carlin to the race.

"Glad to see that PCs have found a candidate to make this a good race, which is critical to a strong democracy," Holt said.

"I look forward to seeing Nicolle at the doors and engaging in meaningful discussions about the most important issues to the people of Fredericton South-Silverwood."

Holt won a seat in a 2023 byelection in the riding of Bathurst East-Nepisiguit-Saint-Isidore, but has chosen to run in a Fredericton riding come October. The Liberal leader lives in the city of Fredericton.

Simon Ouellette is the Green Party candidate for the riding. (Radio-Canada)

The Green Party's candidate for the riding, Simon Ouellette, also welcomed Carlin to the race in a post on X, formerly Twitter.

"I'm looking forward to a fair and competitive race focused on good ideas and honest politics. I hope to see Nicolle at local debates, where we can share our different visions for the future of our province," Ouellette said.