Stuart Hertzog
While a final decision has yet to be made public, it appears likely that Elizabeth May will run in Saanich–Gulf Islands in the next election. It also appears that if she decides to do so, she will be challenged for the nomination by Stuart Hertzog, who has received a fair amount of attention regarding his plans to run against May.
Personally, I doubt that Hertzog will attract much support for his efforts, but I don’t mind that a contested race could draw more attention to the riding and to May’s campaign. But more interestingly, I think the situation illustrates one reason the Greens are fundamentally different old-line parties — we respect and value participatory democracy, and seek to promote active involvement of our membership in the democratic process.
As Pundits’ Guide explains, it is basically unprecedented for a leader to be challenged in a nomination contest. Should a Conservative, Liberal of NDP member ponder challenging their party leader, it’s likely that their party’s operatives would shut down the situation without delay. I mean, consider the NDP’s recent policy convention fiasco. The party executive banned pro-pot delegate Dana Larsen because they disliked his efforts to make marijuana law a focus of the policy debate. Or how about the Conservatives, who have declared incumbent MPs safe from nomation challenges? I know many Conservatives in Calgary West are not happy that this anti-democratic rule prevents them from ditching the universally disrespected Rob Anders. Can you imagine what steps a party like the NDP, Liberals or Conservatives might take in a more high-profile scenario like the one the Greens may face? I doubt that democracy would prevail, and I doubt any member who spoke of challenging the leader would be allowed to stick around.
But in the Green Party, we do things differently. This is why the only comments I’ve heard from fellow Greens regarding Stuart Hertzog have been along the lines of, “Well, that’s democracy,” and “He won’t win, but he has the right to run”. And this is why cynical attempts to shut down- nomination challenges are the last thing on the Green Party’s mind.
So I applaud Hertzog for his commitment to a “grassroots, community-based, participatory democracy,” and I believe his planned candidacy for the SGI nomination proves that the values he cherishes are alive and well in the Green Party of Canada.
And can you imagine in any other party than the GPC, the Leader endorsing people running for Council? Or a party that for the whole tenure of a Leader churns out disgruntled staff?
But go ahead and congratulate yourself.
A very big reason why the NDP party brass can get away with bringing down the hammer on Dana Larsen is because it is so exceptional. IE, many that don’t like it just flinch and grumble. If things like that happened all the time it would be very different.
The internal processes of the GPC have become so rife with lack of transperency and self dealing, that there is plenty of grumbling, but it all stays out on the margins in blogs.
With all that seething on the margins it was inevitable someone would take a windmill tilt run at the Leader. If thats your idea of healthy democracy, you are welcome to it.
Stuart Hertzog is probably the member of our party whom I have come to respect the most (of all other members) through all the years I have communicated with him. I’d only quibble with that statement in including Loren Duncan and Doug Woodard as being close contenders; oh, and Catharine Johannson.
Ken, the council election rules gave the leader, deputy leader and any other councilor the right to comment on the ongoing council elections and endorse candidates as desired. The rules were changed partway through the game and I opposed that move.
As for staffers, I’m former party staff and certainly don’t fall into the disgruntled category. Most other staff have been in position for years because they enjoy their work and are proud to contribute to the growth of the Greens.
I’ve yet to see any credible evidence of a lack of transparency from “grumblers”, and it’s difficult to take these allegations seriously given the sources.
The NDP doesn’t have any RULES that the Leader cannot endorse candidates for Council. And presumably no other party does either.
Its just [I would think] common sense about fair play, level playing fields, and whats appropriate for the Leader to be so intimately involved with.
I would characterise it not as “the rules were changed partway through the game”, but as the rules had to be made because the crew around May doesn’t have the sense to know what is substantively non-democratic.
in the ndp, they hav a nomination committee that cooks up deal about who gets to be their federal council. the leader always has a finger in the backroom deal. so peggy nash becomes prez – cuz that’s how the leader wants it. behind closed doors – fer sure. libs and cons too
“No credible evidence of lack of transperency.”
Thats interesting. How many conversations have I seen where people who really pay attention have no idea whats going on [and I'm not talking about the sort of things that are expected to be in camera].
And the fact that some staffers are very satisfied and stay that way says nothing about the GPC revolving door. How many campaign directors have there been in 2 years?
I’m not even sure the NDP even has an active nominating committee any more. If it does, not for Council. If you want a Council or Exec seat, you have to hustle and press the flesh at Convention. And no one could have beat Peggy Nash for President.
In pratice, the amount of substantive democracy in the running of a party is limited in all of them. I was quibbling with the self congratulation here.
Re “This is why the only comments I’ve heard from fellow Greens regarding Stuart Hertzog have been along the lines of.”
Blinders on? Selective hearing?
how did the vote go at the Saanich-Gulf islands nominating meeting?? Did hertzog win? come close? the word on the street is that at a meeting of more than 100 grass roots members he got just 2 repeat 2 votes!!
Mary, check out my latest post for the low down on the nomination meeting! A resounding victory for May.
Is Mary Griffin employed or assoiated with the GPC in any way?