Gordon Reflects on Provincial Campaign - Guelph

Guelph NDP Newsletter
Fall 2014
Gordon Reflects on Provincial Campaign
I was honoured to have been the
NDP candidate in June’s provincial
election; for me it was a very positive, rewarding experience.
We had a unique scenario in Guelph
which made a win next to impossible. When the leader of the Ontario
Green Party was parachuted in to our
riding, it split the progressive vote
almost exactly in half. The Greens
had a huge budget and province-wide
resources that we couldn’t begin to
match in this riding; having an incumbent who was a senior cabinet
minister was a great obstacle as well.
That being said, I believe that the
specter of a Hudak Conservative
government is what stole the agenda
of the election and caused a lastminute strategic-voting frenzy that
skewed the result. Despite this, I believe we all used the opportunity of
the campaign to generate ideas and
questions about Guelph and our
province, and we made a lasting impact.
Led by campaign manager Jon
Beharry, I was blessed with an amazing team. Their energy, commitment,
and advanced skill level meant that
the mood was always positive in our
very lively office. We succeeded in
providing a fun, stimulating environment for our large number of volunteers which kept up morale and led to
a very engaging campaign for the
whole community--a success not reflected in the final vote tally.
I am particularly proud of the outreach made with low-income neighbourhoods. These residents have
been marginalized and largely neglected by our current government.
Poverty has been ‘institutionalized’,
and the lack of attention to these issues perpetuates itself when our
poorest citizens are also our most
cynical and choose not to vote at all
because they don’t feel heard. I believe that we contributed to raising
awareness and raising the voter turnout by connecting with these citizens
who are feeling challenged by the
James Gordon was the NDP candidate in Guelph for the 2014
provincial election.
growing income inequity in
our society. It was rewarding
to see many of these new voters also turn out to help with
the campaign!
I can honestly say that the
result of the election cannot
be attributed to any lack of
efficacy in the campaign. We
were firing well on all cylinders, and as a candidate, I felt
very cared for. Our great
team made my job easy.
(Continued on page 3)
Guelph NDP Sets AGM Date
The Guelph NDP Riding Association has sets the date for its annual general meeting. It will take place at the
on Thursday, September 11th at the UNIFOR hall (formerly the CAW hall at 611 Silvercreek Pkwy N). Registration begins at 6:30pm. Members will have an oppourtunity to elect the next executive as well as select
delegates for the Provincial Convention (November 14-16 in Toronto) and vote on resolutions. Because this
year’s AGM is later in the year (due to the spring election), the new executive will serve a term of approximately six months. If you’re thinking of joining the executive, this is your oppourtunity to try it out for a
shorter term! A description of executive positions can be found on page 2.
Follow us on Twitter at: @guelphndp to receive up to date information about riding news and events.
Guelph NDP Newsletter
Page 2
Join the Movement: Become a Member of
the Guelph NDP Executive
Want to know what your riding association executive
members do? Here’s a description of the positions on
the Guelph NDP Executive:
President: As pr esident of the Guelph NDP Riding
Association, you represent the NDP in our riding. You
are the contact person for the media, other members
locally, the party (federally and provincially if you are
the president of both) and Elections Ontario/
Canada. For a political junkie, it is a fabulous opportunity to see how the party works at a grassroots level
and develop an understanding of political organizing.
Vice President: The Vice Pr esident coor dinates
riding association items and planning in consultation
with the President and can step in for the President, if
necessary.
Guelph NDP Executive members plan events like the
annual Noodle Supper fundraiser.
The Chief Financial Officer is r esponsible for
Secretary: The secr etar y is a key position on the
maintaining the financial records of the Association;
executive. As secretary, in collaboration with the
reporting regularly to the Executive concerning the
president and other members of the executive, you set state of the Association's finances; and preparing an
the agenda for meetings and ensure proper documentation of meetings occurs. The secretary is the keeper annual financial report for presentation at the Annual
General Meeting.
of the collective riding knowledge!
Education and Outreach Chair: The Education
and Outreach chair is responsible for distributing information about NDP news and policies to the Guelph
NDP membership. He/she should also conduct outreach efforts with current members as well as various
interest groups and stakeholders. Some of the ways
this can be done are through assisting with the Guelph
NDP newsletter and website.
Labour Representative: The Labour r epr esentative is chosen by the Guelph Labour Council. The Labour rep takes any relevant information back and forth
between the GLC and the Guelph NDP.
Membership Chair: The Member ship chair is a
vital position on the executive. As membership chair,
you get up to date membership lists as they become
available from provincial office. The membership
chair makes notes of changes in membership numbers
and initiates membership drives to ensure we are
reaching our community.
Provincial Council delegates attend pr ovincial
council meetings meeting to represent the Guelph
Riding Association. Report on issues and matters disCommunications Chair: The Communications chair
cussed at Provincial Council.
is responsible for communicating news and inforThe Election Readiness Officer is r esponsible for
mation about the Guelph NDP to members, the media,
the maintenance of election records and is responsible interested stakeholders, and the general electorate.
This can take the form of writing press releases for
for ensuring that the riding is prepared for the next
media outlets as well as assisting with the Guelph
election.
NDP newsletter and website.
Guelph NDP Newsletter
Page 3
Terry O’Connor: Ward 1 Candidate
The 2014 municipal election is getting closer. Nominations close on
September 12, and voting day is October 27. I am running in Ward 1
against Bob Bell and Jim Furfaro. Although neither has a strong record
of achievements on Council, they will not be easy to beat. I need your
help to get the job done.
My involvement in the Guelph community is long and varied. Over the
past 40 years I have been an active member of the NDP, serving on the
executive and also being involved in every election, whether federal,
provincial or municipal.
One reason I am running is to bridge what I see as a huge disconnect
between city council and the citizens of Guelph. I will be the voice of
working people, bringing their views and concerns to the council horseTerry O’Connor is a longtime
shoe.
labour leader and has served on the
To help me become the first labour city councillor, please donate to my local NDP executive for many
campaign and help distribute my message to the diverse neighbouryears.
hoods in Ward One.
Thank you.
Terry O’Connor
Gordon Grateful for Support from Campaign Volunteers
(Continued from page 1)
Everyone worked hard on volunteer engagement, fundraising, data management (yay Elaine!), communications, research, ‘candidate handling’ (not an easy job with unmanageable me!), and finances. We WERE affected by the increased competition for fundraising dollars with the Green Party, and I thought that our team
worked very creatively and effectively with more limited resources this time.
I can also honestly say that I noticed a level of disenchantment on the doorsteps with the provincial messaging. Over the next four years we have an excellent opportunity to develop a strong, distinctive platform that
resonates with progressive voters, workers, teachers, families, new Canadians, and a broader cross-section of
our community. If we can do that, with other successes in Southwestern Ontario, we will be well positioned
for the next election. The newly elected Liberal majority is already starting to show its true colours. Their supposedly “NDP-friendly” budget is going to prove to be anything but, and we need to point this out to our electorate whenever possible. With a strong team and a strong message, we can have a strong finish next time.
Remember, there are two ways to look at the results of June’s election: we finished in fourth place, but we
also placed within a whisker of 2nd place!
I want to thank the campaign team and the riding association for their loyal and generous support. It’s a humbling experience to discover how much time and energy so many were willing to contribute. That contribution
is already paying dividends in our city by leaving a lasting impression on our voters that we were inclusive,
accessible, engaging, honest, and effective in our work. You are an inspiring group--I’m very grateful to you
all and hope to stay connected as we continue our journey forward, working together to effect real change in
our city and our province.
Guelph NDP Newsletter
Page 4
“Why I’m Running”
James Gordon Announces Candidacy for Ward 2 Councilor Seat
I have been a Ward Two resident for 15 years and have been working to
help Guelph realize its amazing potential all my adult life.
When I recently ran in the provincial election, I knocked on the doors of
many residents who shared their concerns about the direction that our city
is moving in. Many of them expressed the hope that I might help them to
address those concerns.
I seem to have acquired the nickname “Mr. Guelph” for the years I’ve
worked to serve this community. As the founding president of the Guelph
Civic League, I worked hard on social justice issues and on making sure
our city government was accountable, transparent, accessible, democratic, and responsive to its citizens. As the founding Artistic Director of the
Hillside Festival, I worked to enliven our city’s cultural life, which has
drawn many new families here, becoming a vital part of our economy and
our identity. As a downtown businessman, I learned the importance of
small business to our economy, and of city leaders who will provide ways
to encourage those businesses to establish and prosper here. As the founding chair of the Family Mental Health Network, I worked to give voice to
our citizens who have become marginalized by poverty and health disabilities; I believe it is crucial that they can thrive in our community.
As co-founder of the Wellington Water Watchers, I worked hard to protect our most precious resource, and to make sure we have a sustainable
watershed and thriving river corridors.
James Gordon is a local activist
and musician who was the NDP
candidate in Guelph the past two
provincial elections.
I have been amazed at the number of people who have approached me
since the provincial election to encourage me to contribute to our city by sitting on council. They are trusting
that my experience as an advocate for city issues would be an asset.
I’ve visited homes in every part of Ward Two. It’s a fascinating microcosm of our city, from the historic older
neighbourhoods along the Speed River corridor to the new prosperous suburbs in the North- East, to the areas
that have experienced real poverty as our economy has lost so many jobs.
I am excited about the opportunity to represent Ward Two. I would run a non-partisan campaign while still upholding the values that I associate with my party of choice, the NDP. I would work on our citizens’ behalf
around issues of employment, our income inequality, our master growth plan, our cultural and local food sectors, our environment, our great potential in the innovation sector, our infrastructure and energy plan, and our
quality of life in this great city. I want to give back to this community that has given so much to me. City
council is on the front line of change. That is where decisions get made at a grassroots level that can have a
major impact on our daily lives as residents. I want to work hard to help create a city that works, and there’s
much work to do. I want to bring a passion and skill to that work in a way that would be progressive, inclusive, innovative, creative, visionary and effective!
Though this municipal campaign follows closely behind the grueling provincial one, I am excited about connecting with my neighbours again. I would love to be able to count on your support in anyway you might be
able to offer it. Let’s stay in touch!
James Gordon, Ward 2 Candidate

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