The Stel Salaried
Pensioners Organization wishes to thank The Hamilton Spectator for permission
to post the following article by Reporter Meredith Macleod published in the May
14, 2004 edition
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May. 14, 2004. 12:53 AM |
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NDP TRIUMPHS IN HAMILTON EAST |
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Horwath easily trounces Agostino in byelection |
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By Meredith Macleod |
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Andrea Horwath ended a political dynasty in Hamilton East and returned the riding to its NDP roots. Horwath handily defeated Liberal challenger Ralph Agostino last night, winning more than 63 per cent of the vote. Agostino, carrying the political torch for his late brother Dominic, was a distant second with 27 per cent. Horwath captured 15,185 votes and Agostino trailed with 6,362. Tory candidate Tara Crugnale managed 1,772 votes, followed by Green Party candidate Raymond Dartsch with 448 and independent John Turmel with 120. Minutes after the results were clear, Horwath said she was surprised but pleased by the margin of victory. "The voters of Hamilton East are making history and sending a strong message of no more broken promises," Horwath said. At a boisterous victory party, Horwath promised she'll fight for quality health care and education and against rising hydro and auto insurance rates. "I'll stand up for our most vulnerable citizens and make sure they're not forgotten. And I'll stand shoulder to shoulder with workers to fight for good jobs, safe workplaces and secure pensions." "This was more a Dominic riding than a Liberal riding," Agostino said after conceding defeat. "I don't think the premier was a factor in the election." Premier Dalton McGuinty joined Agostino briefly last night and accepted the loss. "Byelections are difficult at anytime," he said. "I have no regrets about the process. The people of Hamilton have spoken and we respect their decision." The NDP pulled out all the stops in backing Horwath's run and her victory gives New Democrats eight seats and official party status. Howard Hampton, who watched the election results with the candidate and her family in a private gathering at her campaign headquarters, was a frequent visitor to the riding. Federal NDP leader Jack Layton also lent his support. Hampton said the win will allow his party to more effectively hold the government accountable. He said Hamilton has elected an "energetic, dynamic, thoughtful workhorse" in Horwath. "A large majority government needs an effective opposition or it resembles almost a dictatorship." He said the results show the party has "turned a corner. It's a tremendous breath of momentum." The riding was solidly NDP provincially from 1975 to 1995 behind unionist Bob Mackenzie, who was with Horwath last night. He served as the first labour minister in the Bob Rae government. When Mackenzie retired, his son, Andrew, failed to hold the seat, losing to then-former alderman Dominic Agostino. Horwath admitted during the campaign that the pressure to win was intense. On it, hinged more than $1 million in NDP annual funding and the opportunity to more fully participate in legislature activity, including question period. Hamilton Mayor Larry Di Ianni said last night's vote means that Hamilton's core has lost a "strong voice. It's a hole that will be difficult to fill. But Hamilton has gained a strong advocate at Queen's Park." Yesterday, McMaster political science professor Henry Jacek described Horwath as an astute, well-prepared politician who win fight hard for Hamilton. "She will never let the provincial Liberals forget about the city," said Jacek, who called Horwath a "rising star." "She's got a great future for herself. She could even sometime down the line be Hamilton's first female mayor." Voter turnout yesterday, although expected to be high, was only 31.5 per cent, compared with 46.7 per cent in the election last fall. Horwath has made a name for herself on city council as a vocal advocate for Hamilton's downtown and an opponent of the controversial Red Hill Creek Expressway. She was first elected to city council in 1997 after losing to Liberal incumbent Stan Keyes in Hamilton West that year. Hamilton East voters have ridden a rocky political storm in recent months. The area was the battleground for a very bitter federal Liberal nomination between cabinet minister Tony Valeri and Grit warhorse Sheila Copps in March. Her defeat has left Copps's political future in doubt. Then the riding was rocked by the sudden death of its provincial member, Dominic Agostino on March 24. He was viewed by many as a scrappy, dynamic fighter who personified Hamilton's gritty east end. As prominent local Liberals held backroom meetings to anoint a candidate to replace him, the party's leadership chose to stand behind Dominic's younger brother Ralph. While city Councillor Bernie Morelli was the choice of the local majority, the decision was made to fight a quick byelection behind the popular Agostino name. That set the stage for the relatively politically inexperienced and unpolished Catholic school board trustee to take on a well-known Hamilton city councillor. Some local Liberals decided to sit on their hands in protest. Others, such as Councillor Sam Merulla, actively supported Horwath. Meanwhile, she hit the streets hard, campaigning on a platform of Liberal broken promises. Her battle cry has been that Hamilton needs a strong opposition voice to keep Queen's Park on the straight and narrow. She railed about auto insurance rates, private health care and Stelco pensions. The 41-year-old mother of three ran circles around a seemingly flustered and ill-prepared Agostino during a televised debate. McMaster's Jacek said last night's results indicate that voters are impatient to see McGuinty's government get on with the change it promised. mmacleod@thespec.com 905-526-3408 |