McClain will stay in politics

Despite coming second to incumbent Howard Hampton here, Liberal candidate Geoff McClain said he’s happy with the Liberal landslide in last Thursday’s provincial election.
And he’s already planning to run in the next one.
“I’m in this for the long haul. I still will remain active in the provincial riding association,” he pledged. “I still want to see great things happen here in our district, and I will run again.”
McClain garnered about 26 percent of the vote in Kenora-Rainy River riding—a distant second to Hampton (60 percent).
But in Rainy River District, he took only about 16.5 percent of the votes cast, compared 66.7 for Hampton and 15.8 percent for PC candidate Cathe Hoszowski.
“I would attribute some of it to the riding amalgamation that took place in ’99,” McClain said. “I’m better known throughout the Kenora District than the Rainy River District.
“You’re able to spend a little more time in your home area, although I made it a point to spend as much time as the number of days in the campaign would allow [in Rainy River District].”
McClain said he travelled 11,000 km during the month-long campaign, and personally knocked on more than 1,700 doors. This included seven trips to Rainy River District.
“I wish I could do more of the door-to-door. That was really where, I felt, you make a connection with people,” he noted.
“Because I do intend to run again, I’ll make a point of ensuring that I get out to meet and greet the folks in the Rainy River District in the next couple of years,” he added.
Having spent six years in municipal politics, McClain is no stranger to election campaigns, although the provincial one was on a different scale altogether.
“I’m just so grateful for the experience of running provincially,” he said. “Meeting thousands of people across the riding and hearing directly from people about the issues that are important to them.
“It was a fabulous learning opportunity.”
While the Liberal wave that rolled across the province didn’t extend to this riding, McClain said he was pleased with the overall outcome.
“I’m excited about what’s happened across Ontario,” he remarked. “People across the province, they chose change.”
For now, McClain will continue his work as project co-ordinator of community development at Ear Falls 2000. He also is a director on the Kenora District Services Board, chairing the Ontario Works/Childcare Committee for the past four years.
McClain will complete his term as mayor of Ear Falls until the municipal election next month. He is not seeking re-election there.