Municipal elections in the Canadian province of New Brunswick were held on May 10, 2004. All 104 municipalities in New Brunswick elected mayors and councillors. Also held on that day were elections for regional health boards and district education councils.
These elections marked the end of three-year terms for elected municipal offices. Beginning in 2004, officials began to serve four-year terms, meaning the next elections will be held in 2008.
All municipal elections in New Brunswick are non-partisan.
InFredericton, former mayor Brad Woodside, who stepped down in 1999, announced his return to city politics on the final day candidates could file nominations, and won a close race over incumbent Les Hull and councillor Joel Richardson.
InMiramichi, John McKay won in a close three-way battle against Frank Trevors and Gerry Cormier. Arch Pafford, better known for founding the Confederation of Regions Party of New Brunswick, finished a distant fourth. There was no incumbent, as former mayor Rupert Bernard decided to (successfully) run for a seat on city council instead.
InEdmundston, Gérald Allain defeated incumbent Jacques Martin.
InBathurst, Stephen Brunet defeated incumbent Jay Mersereau and three other challengers.
Former Oromocto mayor Fay Tidd returned to the post that she held in the 1990s by defeating incumbent Ross Giberson and two other candidates.
Clarence Sweetland defeated David Burrell to become mayor of Riverview. Former mayor Bruce Fitch jumped to provincial politics, winning as a Progressive Conservative candidate in the 2003 election.
The mayors of Dieppe (Yvon LaPierre), Caraquet (Antonio Landry), Beresford (Raoul Charest), Sackville (Jamie Smith), Rothesay (Bill Bishop), and Sussex (Ralph Carr) won by acclamation.
Three communities held plebiscites on election day:
The City of Edmundston banned smoking in indoor public places by a margin of 74.1% to 25.9%.
The City of Miramichi voted to scrap the ward system of electing city council in favour of ten at-large councillors. The plebiscite passed 53.7% to 46.3%.
The Village of Belledune decided to keep its ward system, by a margin of 63.3% to 36.7%.