Sarah Thomson makes her MPP candidacy, riding and party official
End the rumours, here are the facts: Sarah Thomson, one-time candidate for mayor and then champion for anyone-but-Ford, is running for the Liberals in the October provincial election in the Trinity-Spadina riding. In a move that certainly won’t invite comparisons to Sarah Palin, Thomson announced her plan on her Facebook page (log-in required). Thomson will be going up against longtime NDP MPP Rosario Marchese. The man will not be an easy one to defeat. Thomson’s name recognition from last year’s election may help her, but it’s still going to be a long, tough campaign. The Informer asked Thomson why she decided to run in another election so soon after the municipal one. Her answer, and Marchese’s retort, after the jump.
“I kind of get charged up by it. My husband’s already noticed that my energy level has picked up,” says Thomson. Taking aim at Marchese, Thomson says, “I’m a consensus-builder and a doer. He’s been there for 21 years and he’s done nothing for that riding.” Thomson lists a number of issues in Trinity-Spadina she thinks needs to be pushed forward, including improvements to Ontario Place and Exhibition Place.
For his part, Marchese told The Informer, “Sarah is clearly setting the tone of the election. I don’t have a problem with that—she’ll have to defend the Liberal record, and defend what the Liberals will do if they’re re-elected.” Specifically, Marchese thinks that General Thomson of the subway army will have a hard time defending the Liberal record on cuts to Transit City and diesel-powered trains to the airport.
“We’d heard for some time the Liberals were courting her, so today’s news isn’t a surprise. We also heard the Conservatives were courting her and she was courting them. I’m glad she’s made up her mind,” says Marchese. “It would be foolish on my part not to take her seriously.”
The official race for Trinity-Spadina is only hours old, and we’ve already got accusations of rank opportunism and lethargic gold-bricking. (We’re sure the Tories will run a candidate in Trinity-Spadina, but calls to the sacrificial lamb farm were not immediately returned.) This has officially become a race to watch. Stay tuned.
Great – let her start the “Anyone but Rosario Marchese” campaign!
Losers courting losers.
Sarah Thomson, easy lover : Levy
Failed mayoralty candidate falls for George Smitherman, who she called a ‘corrupt, boondoggle of a career politician’
http://www.torontosun.com/comment/columnists/sueann_levy/2010/10/04/15579976.html
… the bio on Sarah Thomson’s Web site has been changed from claiming that she “came within 200 votes of winning” the Hamilton seat to “at the age of 28 she ran for city council in Hamilton had a great experience but lost.” Luckily, we have this original screen grab ….
http://www.torontolife.com/daily/informer/mayor-may-not/2010/03/18/sarah-thomsons-slight-discrepancy/
I am actually someone who spends 2 hours and 20 minutes on 3 subway lines and 1 bus line each day, and supports subways not Transit City. I travel from High park to Don Mills every weekday. As a person who grew up near slaughter houses and paint factories in High Park, I do support diesel trains. I am not an aristocrat, but a working class jane. Also, I would like to know if the vendor for these electric trains is a startup operation connected to anyone employed by the government. European companies have a lot of experience with new technologies, so experienced companies should be employed, not Canadian startups. Electric TTC buses with poor technology doubtless manufactured by a company that has no experience in the new technology are breaking down before their time.
I’ve lived in the riding for a few yrs and if not for my interest in political news, I would not even have known Rosario Marchese was my MPP. Adam Vaughan, who is not my City Councillor, does a much better job keeping me in the loop of what he does. And Olivia, my MP, regularly responds to emails and sends invites for meetings or newsletters. I am ready to consider voting for someone else (certainly not a Tory) simply because I don’t think Marchese even has an interest in communicating with his constituents.
Was doing some browsing and I came across Highparkgirl’s comments. Although the chances of you seeing this message are slim, you should know I also commute from Runnymede Station to Don Mills (then take a bus from there) so I can empathize. Another thing you should know, is that McGuinty has rejected the electrification of train lines, opting instead for a sole source diesel contract. Our local MPP Cheri DiNovo lashed out at the Liberals for this, and I suggest you write to her as I have about this matter. Have a nice summer.
Andreas
I’ve had a totally different experience with Marchese. When the Parent and Family Literacy Centres were under threat, he stepped up and helped save them. He (and his office) have been incredibly responsive every time I’ve contacted them about issues. Not just with their initial response but also by following up in the weeks and months afterwards. Even if the other candidates were strong (which I don’t think they are) I would vote for him again.