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The Canadian Press Published Monday, September 22, 2014 6:09AM EDT Last Updated Monday, September 22, 2014 9:13PM EDT

FREDERICTON -- New Brunswick's Liberals and governing Progressive Conservatives were in an unusually tight race as votes were tallied at the conclusion of an election campaign that was dominated by jobs and the economy.

The Liberals, led by political rookie Brian Gallant, had been the perceived front-runner in the race long before the campaign even began. But the results indicated a much closer contest than polls suggested.

Like his main rival, Tory Premier David Alward, Gallant focused his campaign on employment growth, promising to create thousands of jobs by spending $900 million over six years to pave roads, repair bridges and upgrade other infrastructure.

By contrast, Alward sought a second mandate by committing to spur economic growth through expansion of the province's relatively new but contentious shale gas industry.

Alward's position was polarizing in the province, where public protests have raised concerns about the industry's use of hydraulic fracturing.

But Alward, 54, said New Brunswick is on the verge of $10 billion in private investment if it develops its deposits of shale gas and welcomes the proposed Energy East Pipeline, which could see oil shipped from Alberta to Saint John.

Alward and Gallant were both elected in their ridings by wide margins. But six of Alward's cabinet ministers went down in defeat.

With a large number of polls reporting results, the Liberals were leading and elected in 25 ridings compared to the Tories with 23.

Green Leader David Coon had a small lead in a close three-way race in the riding of Fredericton South.

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Liberals, Tories neck and neck after early returns in N.B. election