Who's running, who should be for the ONDP in 2011 - part II

Dear Friends,

June 12, 2011 will mark an important next step in changing the political culture in Davenport. Please join me at Hungarian House and help nominate me to be our Ontario NDP candidate for Davenport. While only NDP members in good standing who reside in Davenport are eligible to vote at the nomination, I encourage you all to come out, show your support, and help kick off this exciting campaign. 

For too long, our community has suffered under uninspiring, unaccountable and ineffective political representation. As we face growing challenges in our communities, thousands of Davenport residents suffer alone without support and have almost given up hope that change is possible.

But times are changing. 

For the first time in 49 years, Davenport fought to oust our tired Liberal MP. We came together as a community to elect an inspiring new MP, Andrew Cash, to represent us in Ottawa. 

I know that change is possible. I know that we can build a city and province that we are proud of, and communities that care for each other, that nurture us and allow us to prosper. 

The “orange wave” of the Federal campaign began in Davenport well before Quebecers made their historic move to elect New Democrats. The orange wave began in coffee shops, the No Frills, on the Dufferin bus and in the streets of Davenport. The wave began as a ripple. It began with speaking and listening to each other at your front door, making connections, and building an organization that we can all believe in, be proud of, and one that can win elections. 

I’m honoured to have worked with so many of you on this project. Last fall we worked to win the hearts and votes of nearly 5000 people in Davenport North in the municipal election. Despite many challenges, we received more votes than any progressive candidate in Ward 17 in history, and nearly defeated Councillor Cesar Palacio. 

After the municipal election, my campaign team and I went straight to work to carry our momentum and support forward into the Cash campaign, working all winter and spring, knocking on doors, raising money and building a strong volunteer base to elect Andrew Cash.

I’ve committed my life to public service, as a social worker, educator, and community organizer. I’ve helped thousands of people across the city in some of Toronto’s most marginalized communities, as an advocate for people with disabilities, low-income and homeless folks, as a harm reduction worker and as a counsellor in the LGBT community.

For the past six years I have worked in the Davenport community, where I helped to launch the Civic Engagement Program at The Stop Community Food Centre, working as a community organizer and as an advocate for food security. After my municipal campaign in Davenport North, I worked all winter and spring for Andrew Cash to help him win his seat in the House of Commons. I am currently employed by Social Planning Toronto as an organizer on the “Commitment to Community” campaign to contest Mayor Rob Ford’s privatization agenda.

Now, with a provincial election just four months away, we need a team and a candidate that can win this seat for the Ontario NDP and advocate for Davenport. I’m writing to ask for your support to become your NDP candidate for Davenport in the provincial election this October.

I have a proven track record of bringing people together and I have the support of an amazing group of activists and community leaders in Davenport. The nomination in Davenport is contested, but I believe that I am the only candidate that can win a seat for the Ontario NDP in Davenport. I need you to come out to support me at the nomination meeting on June 12. I look forward to working with all of you to win in October.

Please contact me at 647 802 6586 or by email at jonah@jonahschein.ca if you have any questions or if I can be of any further assistance. You can also visit my website at www.electjonahschein.com 

Sincerely,

Jonah Schein

Grant Robertson, Huron-Bruce?

To my complete surprise I think there is a chance that Grant Robertson might actually jump in.  Heard from two friends that this week on the same day he was at Queens Park during the day supporting the Walkerton jail closure protest and then later in the evening at a community forum on industrial wind getting a really positive reception and afterwards there was a knot of people around him asking him to run.   I know he has always kept up a busy schedule of community involvement, but it does have tongues a waggin' as they say.

Bruce Budd nominated in what should be a tight race in Scarborough SW (I believe) Kathleen Mathurin is the candidate in Scarborough Centre

I completely agree, After election 31yr old Dan Harris (whom i know and have worked with within the party) to then turn around and nominate someone of that age (i'm trying not to be agist here)

 

Other candidates for the nomination were:  

Barbara Warner (who was the candidate in 2003, ran for nominations in Beaches and Danforth);

Alagimir Hussain (don't know much about him)