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Toronto-Danforth By-election
August 28, 2011 - 8:14pm
I would not be surprised if the by-election is held off as long as constitutionally possible, which I believe is 6 months (?)
Potential NDP candidates that come to mind: Peter Tabuns, Paula Fletcher, Marilyn Churley, Francis Lankin. Thoughts on who should fill in these monolithic shoes? Perhaps dipper friendly local activists like Cathy Crowe or Rick Smith?
I believe she lives in the east end, but not sure if its in T-D. I do know Jack and her were tremendously close and that Marilyn considered Jack her mentor. Whether or not her retirement and unsuccessful runs in 2006 and 2008 in Beaches-East York will be held against her, I don't know.
She is a Justice of the Peace right now, is she not.
There is also the possibility that the NDP leadership is won by someone who does not currently have a seat in the House of Commons - in which case Toronto-Danforth would be the logical place for that person to run.
Yes. I like her a lot, I'm just not sure if the riding's a good fit. Paula Fletcher, maybe? If Brian Topp wants to make the leap into elected office, this would be the time and place to do it.
Also, let's hope the party doesn't take this one as a gimmee. Fletcher came close to losing her seat which shares the same boundaries in the municipal election, and even though Jack made it a bastion, much of that is non-transferable. It could be close.
Yes. I like her a lot, I'm just not sure if the riding's a good fit. Paula Fletcher, maybe? If Brian Topp wants to make the leap into elected office, this would be the time and place to do it.
Also, let's hope the party doesn't take this one as a gimmee. Fletcher came close to losing her seat which shares the same boundaries in the municipal election, and even though Jack made it a bastion, much of that is non-transferable. It could be close.
dupe, sorry
Most of the names mentioned in the OP have been around for awhile, are there any younger prospects for the riding?
x
HOw can the riding not be a "good fit" for Churley??? It is exactly the riding she represnted as a provincial MPP from 1990 to 2006!
I think this by-election could be interesting. Layton was elected here four times and it was only the last election that he won over 50% of the vote, reaching 60%. While the NDP are the front runners in this riding if they do not have a well known candidate the Liberals have the potenital of picking up the riding. This is Bob Rae's neighbouring riding and he probably already has candidates in mind. The Liberals may run a well known candidate who will run in their leadership race, it may be someone who has never sought office before or a failed federal or provincial candidate. Gerrard Kennedy's old riding isn't too far away...
It was a good fit. I think she would be a weakened candidate there now, in part because of her failed bids next door in B-EY in '06 and '08..
What about Barbara Warner? She lost the provincial nomination in Toronto-Danforth to Peter Tabuns in 2006, and seems really keen on being elected as an NDP MP or MPP.
I think that in the current political climate there is almost (but not quite) zero chance of anyone other than the NDP winning any byelection in T-D. That riding has become an NDP stronghold at every level and there will be no shortage of high calibre people wanting to run for the NDP there.
It is also the opportunity to bring in another "ministrable" MP to the caucus. Party members in the riding would do well to think about that closely when they choose.
Just curious - how many folks participating in this thread live in Toronto Danforth? (Edited to say: upon rereading, that question sounds almost accusatory, but I don't mean it to - I'm actually curious because I'm relatively new to the riding and was sincerely wondering how many other babblers live here. I discovered so many babblers who lived in Davenport when I lived there!)
Now that the riding is really winnable, it could just be a great time for maybe a local activist woman or person of colour who lives in the riding to run. I've only lived here for a year and a half now, but I don't think I'd be thrilled to have someone with no ties to the riding or city to be parachuted in, like the suggestion above of whomever wins the leadership running in this seat. I'd much rather be able to vote for someone local, and I'd love it if the NDP was serious about running women and people of colour in winnable ridings.
I figure that if someone without a seat becomes a leader, they should do what Jack did - run in a by-election that wasn't held by the NDP already and actually win the party another seat.
Stephen Lewis
Jack didn't actually run in a by-election at all. He won the NDP leadership in January 2003 and was first elected in the June 2004 general election in Toronto-Danforth. The difference though is that when he won the leadership in Jan. 2003 it was clear that there would be a general election in about a year - so going one year having a leader with no seat in the house was not that big a deal (esp. given that the NDP only had 13 seats and was the fourth party at the time). We are now in a totally different situation, the next election is scheduled for October 2015! If by chance the NDP chose a new leader who was not a current MP - there is NO WAY you could have that person leading from the gallery for 3.5 years!
He is 75 years old!
I'd like to echo Marilyn Churley, Stephen Lewis, and add Reverend Brent Hawkes (mentioned in another thread). Yes, none of them are particularly young or new, but they all are stars. If Topp wants to enter politics then there is little question he should seek the nomination in Toronto Danforth. Surely there are a lot of other strong names that could come forward. For instance, David Miller? There should be a robust race for this nomination as there are big shoes to fill.
I really like Marilyn Churley, but I hope she lets this nomination go to some new blood etc. How about Naomi Klein or Avi Lewis?
Another not-so-young name I'd like to see: Michael Rachlis, MD
One of the top defenders of Canadian Medicare.
While I don't doubt Miller could have a formidable career in federal politics, I'd be kind of annoyed if he jumped into it right now. When he decided against running for mayor again, he said he needed to spend time with his family during these crucial years and thus needed a break from politics.
Interesting choice, anonymouse.
I would not be a fan of Brian Topp being either my local MP or the party leader. I've just never been a fan of back room party apparatchiks.
Here in TD, I'd like to see the NDP nominate someone who had some reasonably close connection to the community.
Over 4 years actually, the next election is suppose to be held on October 19, 2015. Harper will likely have to change that though due to all the provincial elections that will also be held in the weeks before and weeks after October 19.
Still not without precedent for "party elders" to come back for a swing at it. Ed Broadbent ran in Ottawa Centre in 2004 for example, and flipped a Liberal riding to NDP.
Though it can be counter-argued that B-EY was a bad fit for her; and that's why she lost there.
As for Paula Fletcher: she's a little prickly, and has that Anne McGrath problem of a Communist past, on top of her recent near-defeat...
I live in Toronto-Danforth and everyone I've talked to thinks that Marilyn Churley is a good pick.
I REALLY REALLY hope that Paula Fletcher does not run, I will not vote for this woman.