The Stel Salaried Pensioners Organization wishes to thank The Hamilton Spectator for permission to post the following article by Reporter Joan Walters in the April 26, 2004 edition
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Apr. 26, 2004. 12:47 AM |
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Political hopefuls out in force in
Hamilton East |
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Liberals, NDP have very different strategies |
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By Joan Walters |
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Liberal candidate Ralph Agostino is sprinting down the street, hurdling hedges, racing from porch to porch of the tidy bungalows in this largely Italian neighbourhood near Eastgate Square. Agostino, canvassing for the May 13 byelection to replace his late brother, Dominic, barely has time to catch his breath between the quick meet-and-greets -- what with one determined Ontario cabinet minister and an election entourage hustling him along. "Ralph, Ralph, over here," yells David Caplan, minister of public infrastructure in Dalton McGuinty's cabinet. Caplan -- one of the many Toronto-based senior Liberals helping the campaign -- has been loping from house to house ahead of Agostino, announcing the candidate's presence. "Ralph, keep the feet moving," Caplan warns from the propped-open front door of a waiting household. On this cul-de-sac, where Dominic Agostino was a favourite son, most voters appear to want to see the brother, to give their condolences, grip his hand. The popular MPP, who had represented Hamilton East since 1995, died March 24 of liver cancer at age 44. "Yes, we knew his brother," says Iolnda Krawczynski, "and we like him, too." But it was not clear this weekend during the Liberal team's canvass that voters are doing anything but showing sympathy for Agostino at the doorway, let alone committing votes. The candidate himself says no one he sees anywhere is raising any issues, except for their need to have an Agostino carry on the family tradition of a strong voice for the local riding. "I am not getting anti-McGuinty sentiments, or concern over any kind of issues at the door," says Agostino, 42, a real estate agent and separate school board trustee for 10 years. "I am getting lots of support for making sure Hamilton East continues to have good representation. That's it." But for NDP candidate Andrea Horwath, there are huge issues across the riding, problems that voters were raising with her constantly as she campaigned on the weekend in another part of Hamilton East. Horwath expects the "broken promises of the McGuinty government," as she calls them, to dominate the rest of this campaign. "I've been door-knocking for a week now, and I can tell you that people have concerns, things they just don't feel are being addressed." They include lack of action on consumer matters such as auto insurance, wishy-washy positions on health care and failure to take action of any kind on such local issues as the meltdown of Stelco Inc., she said. Horwath, a councillor for Ward 2 who is foregoing her municipal salary for the duration of the campaign, lived in the Hamilton East riding until recently and believes this area will not automatically vote for the Agostino name. "I think there may be some backlash," Horwath said. "I've had people say 'Well, my brother or my sister couldn't just step in and take over my job.'" In her third term as a councillor, Horwath has respect and high visibility for her work at city hall, a sentiment reflected as she canvassed near her headquarters on Parkdale Avenue North. "I'm going to encourage people to get behind her," said retired steelworker Bill Morrison, who finds it incomprehensible that McGuinty's Liberals have not been more visible in the Stelco case. "I want every steelworker to vote for her," he said. "Enough of these Liberals who come, speak nicely for five minutes and disappear and do nothing at all." Horwath, an experienced campaigner, acknowledges that pressure on her to win the riding is intense. Winning Hamilton East would restore official party status to the NDP by increasing its seats to the required eight. "I see it (the pressure) as a motivating factor for me and the team," she said. Party status would add more than $1 million to the NDP's annual funding and enable the Queen's Park caucus to participate more fully in the legislature, including question period. For Tara Crugnale, the Conservative candidate, the campaign is an opportunity to convince voters that more can be done in Hamilton East, where she says there are problems with violence and people aren't getting the help they need. "My hope is people will want to send a message to Queen's Park," Crugnale said, noting that byelections are an opportunity for voters to show displeasure without having to topple a sitting government. Crugnale, 28, is a small-business owner and charity worker who acknowledges she is an unknown. But she says "you have to start somewhere." Her reception as she canvassed on Kenilworth South was politely attentive. She said the anti-Conservative sentiment that tossed out the Tories in the fall is over: "There certainly was a red tide of support for the Liberals in October. People were unhappy, and we all got that message. But people still aren't happy now." Joe Shortt, who says he has voted every way as a Hamilton East resident, told Crugnale he's leaning toward the Tories after losing confidence in the Liberals in the last few months. "I realize it's a long shot, and I'm a dark horse," Crugnale said, "but it could happen." Raymond Dartsch, the Green Party candidate, was not out knocking on doors over the weekend. He said they are busy getting organized, and plan to be campaigning "full force" by this coming weekend. jwalters@thespec.com 905-526-3302 |