The Stel Salaried
Pensioners Organization wishes to thank The Hamilton Spectator for permission
to post the following article by Reporter Stacy O’Brien published in the May
15, 2004 edition
|
May. 15, 2004. 12:44 AM |
|
'Relentless fighter' joins NDP at
Queen's Park |
|
Hampton has plans for Andrea Horwath |
|
By Stacy O'Brien |
|
Andrea Horwath never backs down from a fight. And if NDP leader Howard Hampton has his way, she'll have lots to fight for and say, since her victory in Thursday's Hamilton East byelection gave the NDP official party status. "You'll see her a lot in question period," he said. The newly elected Hamilton East MPP won the byelection with more than 63 per cent of the vote. Horwath got 15,185 votes compared to her closest competitor, Liberal candidate Ralph Agostino, who had 6,362. While she threw a knockout punch in the byelection, Horwath has had a fighting spirit for a long time. Tom Cooper, community development co-ordinator at McQuesten Legal & Community Services, has worked with Horwath on housing issues. Horwath worked at the legal clinic before becoming a city councillor in 1997. "Andrea has been a relentless fighter for Hamilton's most vulnerable," he said. She has fought to get better rent rates for tenants, to improve support for people with disabilities and to help find funding for abused women. He expects her work for the underdog to continue at Queen's Park. Councillor Sam Merulla has also experienced Horwath's fighting spirit at City Hall and thinks her council experience will help her in the provincial legislature. Merulla, who has served with her since 2000, said the two of them often "go against the grain." Both have fought for the seniors bus pass and seniors tax credits and against bonuses for city bureaucrats. She also fought for the Red Hill Expressway. He said that her "uphill battles" at city council helped make it an ideal training ground for her new position, which will pit her against the governing provincial Liberals. Merulla caused controversy when, despite being a Liberal, he backed Horwath over Liberal candidate Ralph Agostino. He said it's more important to support the best candidate than to toe the party line. NDP leader Hampton said it will make a difference to have someone representing the area who won't sit quietly on the back bench. He said he has told Horwath to think about what critic areas she wants, but she won't say yet which she'd like. Horwath, 41, said she just hopes to keep the Liberal government accountable and make Hamilton's perspective known. The first issues she hopes to tackle are pensions at Stelco, hydro and gas rates for people in Hamilton East, and the cost of auto insurance. While Horwath no longer lives in the Hamilton East riding she'll be representing, she doesn't think it will hurt her because until recently, she lived in the riding for 14 years. She has lived in Hamilton all of her life. She was raised in Stoney Creek and studied at McMaster University before working at the legal clinic and becoming a city councillor. She and her husband have been married for 20 years, and she has a son and two stepdaughters. Speaking of her six and a half years at city council, Horwath said she's proud of the revitalization of the downtown and the waterfront. She has worked with businesses since she was elected as a city councillor and understands the struggle of the downtown, says Mary Pocius, who works with the International Village Business Improvement Area. "She is always open to hear our issues and do the right thing rather than following party policy," Pocius said. "She's a citizen first and a politician second." Pocius said Horwath isn't one for making snap decisions, but hears both sides of the issue and does research first. "I think it's a tribute to Dominic that she (Horwath) got in." Pocius said the late MPP was passionate about the people and city he represented and doing the right thing, just as Horwath is. sobrien@thespec.com 905-526-2487 |