 New Liberal representative Kathleen Wynne addresses the crowd who gathered for the party’s Don Valley West nomination meeting.
With the next election likely to be held next spring or early summer, organizers want to put forth a candidate to challenge the riding’s current Conservative MPP, David Turnbull, who has acted in the past as Solicitor General for Ontario.
“We really think Mr. Turnbull’s record really won’t stand up to close scrutiny and we think that whoever wins tonight’s nomination with a lot of hard work will take it next time,” said Jim Head, president of the riding’s Liberal Association, before the election.
While Turnbull won the seat by around 18,000 votes in the 1995 election, that was reduced to 3,000 in 1999, which provides hope that the trend may continue in the next election, said Head.
The candidate was voted upon by a possible 713 members of the Don Valley West Liberal Riding Association, supplemented by a limit of 10 per cent from outside the riding.
Wynne has gained visibility as an active Trustee for Eglinton-Lawrence (Ward 8). Before that she was a teacher and tutor at Bishop Strachan School, Humber College and in the East York Board of Education.
“Education is very close to my heart,” said Wynne from the William Lea Room in Leaside Arena where the polling took place. “I’ll always be an advocate for public education, but, social services are close to my heart, affordable housing is close to my heart, reasonable transportation. All of those issues are close to my heart in terms of making a healthy city and a healthy province. So, I don’t consider myself a one issue candidate.”
Having never run for public office, Johnathan Mousley was a relative newcomer to the political fray, but he has credentials from having been policy advisor in the office of a senior federal minister and at present a senior government economist.
Mousley said his platform included restoring the provincial government’s traditional role in funding public transit and housing, and preserving universal healthcare.
Party members had until 9:30 to cast their ballots and by 10:00 p.m. it was announced that Wynne was victorious. While the totals were not announced, it was reported that 426 ballots had been cast.
“I promise you I will be the best candidate that I can be,” said Wynne in her victory speech to her ebullient supporters. “I will work as hard as hard as I can work for you. I will do everything in my power to beat David Turnbull and get rid of this Tory government.”
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