Green Party of Saskatchewan Leadership Election
The candidates for party leader are:
- Larry Waldinger (nominated by Tobi-Dawne Smith, Robert Forsyth, Penny Swartz, Vicki Strelioff),
- Brendan Cross (nominated by Penny Swartz, Vicki Strelioff, Robert Forsyth, Tobi-Dawne Smith), and
- Victor Lau (nominated by Owen Swiderski, Mike Wright, David Orban).
The candidates for deputy leader are:
- Amber Jones (nominated by Tobi-Dawne Smith, Vicki Strelioff, Robert Forsyth, Penny Swartz),
- Owen Swiderski (nominated by Victor Lau, Mike Wright, Amelia Swiderski), and
- Mark Bigland-Pritchard (nominated by Amber Jones, Vicki Strelioff, Robert Forsyth, Penny Swartz).
For those who are available, the Special Leadership Meeting and Election will be held in Regina, this Sunday, at the Glencairn Neighbourhood Recreation Center (2626 Dewdney Avenue East) from 9-5. The election itself will be occurring after lunch at 1:00.
If you are not able to attend the meeting, we still want to hear from you! Your voice, your vote, matters! The Green Party of Saskatchewan is a true grassroots party, run by it’s membership. A ballot is available for download here: http://saskgreen.ca/GPS/docs/2011/Special_Election_Ballot_Sep25.pdf …along with the instructions for casting a distance vote. If you have trouble with the download, or have questions or concerns about the voting procedure, please feel welcome to email Amber Jones at secretary@saskgreen.ca
For more information on the meeting and the candidates visit http://saskgreen.ca/leadership-race-be-decided-sunday-september-25th and http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=281009695261132
Posted on September 20, 2011, in Green, Politics and tagged amber jones, brendan cross, deputy leader, election, Green Party, green party of saskatchewan, larry waldinger, leadership, leadership election, mark bigland-prichard, owen swiderski, party leader, politics, provincial leadership, provincial politics, saskatchewan, victor lau. Bookmark the permalink. 8 Comments.
I’m so disappointed that some people in the party have taken it upon themselves to stick their necks out for a man who has just joined the Greens recently, over supporting Victor who helped found the Greens in Sask. There is no question who would make the more suitable leader for our party at this time. If Victor’s unpopular challenger isn’t soundly defeated on Sunday, the Green Party name and chances in November are mud and dust respectively. Any other serious party in the province would not take someone who joined the party in the same year, and whose track record in politics and public life is dismal, and make them the leader. Give your head a shake and fix this mistake instead of covering for friends who have erred.
I am very honestly not sure what, or whom, your quarrel is with. Having multiple candidates for leadership does nothing but support democracy. It is important that ALL people are given the right to be heard, and this is true for a leadership election just as in any other circumstance. My support will always be in favour of democracy, transparency, honesty, and equality.
Then you are confused. Having multiple QUALIFIED and SUITABLE candidates is a support of democracy, but having a candidate on the ballot who is so remarkably unpopular that the party he founded no longer exists, and the media actually made time to make fun of the Green Party for considering him as a candidate, is such a farce it’s absurd. I can’t honestly understand how you think it makes the Greens look like a professional political party by having the same people nominate TWO candidates for leader. What other party would do that? None, because it’s insanity, it’s not logical. It’s clearly an attempt to manipulate the system, and that’s anti-democratic, not as you claim it to be “transparent, honest,” and “in favour of democracy”.
I am sorry you feel that way, but I stand by my position. Honest, open discussion is not only healthy for a party, but vital to it. Without choice there is no discussion. Without choice there is no democracy.
I am glad you are wholeheartedly able to stand behind your leadership candidate. I am glad you believe so strongly in him. I am glad you have that CHOICE. Would you have been so vocal in your support without his having opposition? Likely not.
A leadership race is a good thing. It is good to fight for what you believe in. It is good for the strength of the party, it is good for the strength of the executive, it is good for the strength of our membership.
I am sorry we don’t see eye to eye, but I am grateful for this opportunity to discuss it.
As I said earlier, I’m not against a leadership race, I’m against it being made a mockery of by manipulative individuals who put their own agenda ahead of the party’s survival.
Lau will be unable to give the time required for the Greens to expand. The mockery has come from individuals such as Mike Wright who continue to attack other Green party members publicly. It is too bad some do not care for democracy.
YES! Thank you Chris.
I am glad I am not the only one who is averse to his (and others) abominable behaviour.
How is what you just said different from what Mike has said? If it’s really such a big deal and anti-democratic to “attack other Green party members publicly”, then where’s the justification?