Failing to breach the NDP stronghold in Kenora-Rainy River, local Liberal candidate Mike Wood of Dryden garnered 5,753 votes (24.4 percent) to finish second in last Wednesday’s provincial election.
A first-time provincial candidate, Wood admitted it was tough going up against the leader of the third party.
“[Howard Hampton] certainly has a lot of resources at his disposal. And he ran a very good campaign,” he remarked.
“This is a large riding, and prior to getting that nomination [on Aug. 18], I was largely unknown,” Wood added. “It’s very difficult to get out there and get your name and your message across in such a short time.
“I did everything I possibly could,” he stressed. “I covered 9,000 km on the road and in the air, and spent every minute of my days around the riding, so it certainly wasn’t for lack of effort.
“I think geography is a huge factor,” Wood continued. “But that’s one of the reasons I did run is because [being an MPP for Kenora-Rainy River] does take that full-time attention that I think we need.”
Wood said he still feels the riding would be better served by a Liberal member.
“There’s obvious benefits of being inside government and having a voice at that decision-making table,” he argued. “I see that, that’s why I chose to run, that’s why I chose the Liberal party.”
That said, Wood added he obviously was pleased with seeing the Liberals returned to a second-straight majority government—the first time that’s happened in Ontario in 70 years.
“Provincially, it was clearly what the province was looking for, and it’s clear that this riding doesn’t agree,” he noted.
Wood later added: “It’s a great step for the party. The results showed that the change that was put in place by the Liberals is working and it’s being adopted and embraced by the vast majority of the province.
“I think the overall results speak for themselves.”
Wood, a Dryden city councillor, said being a provincial candidate was a personally rewarding experience.
“The thing I appreciated the most was the time that people gave to me to speak on the issues that were important to them,” he remarked.
“It was an amazing experience going door-to-door and chatting with people and seeing the excitement in their eyes when they thought, ‘Hey, I might actually get listened to.’
“I really enjoyed that experience. It was a great indulgence by the public,” added Wood. “I’d like to express my thanks to the electorate, to be sure.”
As for the future, Wood said he’s fully committed to furthering the interests of the residents of Dryden and, by extension, Northwestern Ontario.
Meanwhile, local PC candidate Penny Lucas of Kenora said she was pleased with the 2,757 votes she received in the election, but “was unhappy that less than 50 percent of eligible voters took the time to vote.”
“The result is that 28 percent of the people in Northwestern Ontario decided what is best for all of us,” she remarked.
Lucas’ share of the votes was somewhat less than PC candidate Cathe Hoszowski’s total of 3,343 in 2003, but she noted there is “a core group of PC supporters in the riding.”
The key is to get that number to grow,” she added. “The trick will be to get those leaning to actually buy in.
“I am not happy with the PC party’s performance across the province,” Lucas continued. “Obviously, we have our work cut out for us in the next four years.”
Lucas also was a first-time candidate this provincial election.
“My first time experience running as a candidate for MPP was awesome,” she enthused.
“I was constantly amazed by the people who came up to me and either asked questions and/or offered their support and well wishes,” she added. “It’s nice to know that some people actually do care and are paying attention.”
Still, Lucas said it’s too early to say whether she’ll run again in 2011.
“Four years is a long time. Who knows what might happen between now and then?” she admitted. “I only know that I have been a Conservative of one kind or another for 20 years, and I’m not about to change my spots now.”
While Green Party candidate Jo Jo Holiday, also from Kenora and yet another first-time hopeful, may have came in fourth, she made gains over the Green Party candidate in 2003.
She got 770 votes this time around, compared to the 305 past Green Party candidate Dan King got four years ago.
“I quite enjoyed standing on the Green Party platform to speak about the
issues that are extremely important: clean air, clean water, renewable
resources, and healthy communities,” said Holiday.
“It was a huge learning curve that I enjoyed very much,” she added.
“I believe that with the knowledge that is being made to the public today via magazines, radio, TV, and news on these important topics of environment and health, it is inevitable that the general public will realize that the Green Party is a new and different way to look at politics,” she continued.
“I would consider running again in four years as, once again, it was a comfortable platform to speak about issues that are important in our day-to-day lives,” Holiday noted.
Fort Frances Times
Local News from Across the Rainy River District
