Three of New Brunswick’s largest cities are welcoming new mayors to their councils following Monday’s municipal elections across the province.

Saint John residents elected Don Darling as their new mayor. The small-business owner defeated common councillors Shelley Rinehart and Bill Farren. Former Mayor Mel Norton did not reoffer.

Darling says he won because his campaign focused on growth, and that confidence had really built in the last couple of weeks.

"We carried the same vision from the first day of the campaign to the last day of the campaign," says Darling. "It was singular promise, and that was to focus on growth."

Rinehart, who came in second, congratulated Darling at his campaign headquarters.

In Fredericton, Mike O’Brien defeated incumbent Brad Woodside. O'Brien lead by 1,100 votes to become the new mayor New Brunswick’s capital city.

Speaking at his campaign headquarters, O’Brien thanked Woodside saying he has been a strong political mentor, and that he's given his entire adult life to this city.

“I wish him well. He’s done a great job for the city,” said O’Brien. “I tip my hat to him for everything he’s done.”

O’Brien credits his success to his decade and a half in council.

“I’ve been working for decades as a community volunteer and worked hard. And there’s an air for change everywhere right now,” said O’Brien.

In Moncton, Dawn Arnold defeated Brian Hicks by nearly 1,000 votes.Arnold is the first woman to become the mayor of Moncton.

“It’s just too hard doing business with City Hall, so we need to cut the red tape,” says Arnold. “In 30 days we need to come up with real tangible solutions.”

Former mayor George LeBlanc did not reoffer.

Paolo Fongemie was elected mayor in Bathurst, beating second-place finisher Richard Barbeau by 1,200 votes.

Dieppe has re-elected Mayor Yvon Lapierre while Deputy Mayor Dr. Nancy Grant was elected in Rothesay, taking over for long-serving mayor Bill Bishop, who did not reoffer.

Another deputy mayor elected as mayor is Allan MacEachern in St. Stephen. In Quispamsis, Gary Clark defeated incumbent Mayor Murray Driscoll.

Some of the incumbent mayors re-elected are Grace Losier in Grand-Bay Westfield, Cyrille Simard in Edmundston and Gerry Cormier in Miramichi.

The new mayors say change at the top in Moncton, Saint John, and Fredericton is presenting an opportunity to work together.

“The three big cities get together as soon as possible,” says O’Brien. “The council meet each other, the senior staff meets each other, and see if there’s a way to collectively work together. The cities are the economic engines of the province.”

Arnold agreed with O’Brien, saying she also sees power in working together.

“We’ll be able to work a lot more effectively at getting changes at the provincial level.”

New mayors and council will be sworn-in around the province in the weeks to come.

The last regular meeting with Brad Woodside as Mayor was held on Monday night.

With files from CTV Atlantic’s Nick Moore & Amanda Debison.