By Pepper Parr
May 26th, 2024
BURLINGTON, ON
OPINION
I wrote in an opinion piece last week that I believed the ship is taking on water and that it will eventually sink. The “ship” was the head of city council and I suggested she might lose the next election and it was perhaps time to find a ship that was more seaworthy. What else might be available?
More than 12 years of experience as a municipal councillor, five as the Mayor.
Experience with large advocacy agencies and a wide network.
What’s available or likely to become available?
Halton Region Chair; more of a lateral move me thinks.
The provincial seat for Burlington – there will be an election in 2026, assuming the Premier doesn’t call a snap election which for him is probably a good idea.
Mayor Marianne Meed Ward
Those are the options available to Mayor Marianne Meed Ward who is dealing with a significant slump in support that doesn’t look like it can be turned around.
How does Meed Ward get the Liberal nomination for the Burlington seat?
It isn’t all that hard and given the network she has Meed Ward could pull this off.
Membership in the Burlington Provincial Liberal Association is free – you have to be 18 years of age and live on the constituency.
All you have to do is go on line and join.
There is nothing to prevent an individual from lining up supporters and asking them to join the BPLA.
There is nothing to prevent a person from issuing a statement saying that when nominations for a candidate are announced that she will be seeking that nomination.
Were Meed Ward to win that nomination the chances are better than even, in my opinion, that she could defeat the current MPP Natalie Pierre – she really hasn’t done anything other than perfect the photo-op. She manages to get pretty close to five every week: she shows up, snap, snap – shakes some hands and the job for the day is done.
Burlington MPP Natalie Pierre
I was impressed with Natalie Pierre when I first met her. I sensed a level of empathy and a real desire to make a difference. That didn’t last very long.
Provincial Liberal Party Bonnie Crombie
Halton District School Board Trustee Andrea Grebenc
Don’t expect to get as much as a hint that she is casting her eye for a new ship to command – that would make her a lame duck Mayor. She is still a young woman with lots of energy left in her.
In the event that she seeks the nomination she would be wise to clear it with leader of the Ontario Liberal Party, Bonnie Crombie who has to personally sign the nominations papers. As leader Crombie has the authority to refuse to sign the nomination papers of any candidate and parachute her choice into the riding.
There is another potential candidate for the seat. Andrea Grebenc ran for it last time around; a series of circumstances prevented her from putting everything she had into the race at that time. The public hasn’t seen very much of Grebenc since then. Problem with a public profile is – you have to keep it fresh – and that isn’t something she has done.
Related opinion piece and news items:
What do you do when the ship is sinking?
I think 8 years is enough for any politician.After that they seem to run out of good policy ideas.
In my opinion if she ran for provincial liberal she would have a good shot at a cabinet position from day one.
Perhaps back to Christian religious commentary and opinion pieces as is her touted journalistic background. This would provide her with the time to dedicate to a seriously ill family member. Given this very unhappy and stressful situation, I would think that the “where next” conundrum would/should be the last thing on her mind.