For the first time in a number of years, Perth-Wellington New Democrats will have a choice for their candidate in the next provincial election.
Past candidate Ellen Papenburg and newcomer Romayne Smith Fullerton have both announced their intention to seek the nomination to become the party’s standard bearer in the riding.
“I think the fact that we are having a competition for the position, particularly among two very accomplished and successful women, is not only good for democracy but also demonstrates a growing interest in the New Democratic Party in Perth-Wellington and its potential in the next provincial campaign,” said Jack Verhulst, president of the local NDP riding association.
Papenburg was the riding’s candidate in the 2011 federal and provincial general elections, during which the number of NDP votes significantly increased in Perth-Wellington.
She finished second in the federal election, which was a first for the party in the riding, and substantially increased the NDP’s share of votes cast in the riding during the last provincial election.
Papenburg is a computer consultant and small business owner as well as a Lay Chaplain.
She has lived in Drayton for the past 20 years with her husband and family. She is president of the Drayton Rotary Club, past president of the Elora-Fergus Unitarian Church and past president of Unicamp, a conference centre and camp for children and families in Shelburne.
Romayne Smith Fullerton is an associate professor of journalism and media studies at the University of Western Ontario. She teaches journalism ethics and media coverage of women’s rights and the struggle of marginalized people.
Within the past year, she has appeared a number of times on TVO’s program The Agenda and CBC Radio’s The Current to discuss topical political and social issues from a media perspective.
Smith Fullerton lives on a farm on the Thames River with her husband and son. She is a community and environmental activist and currently is spokesperson for the Friends of the Transvaal, a group of local citizens dedicated to protecting the Thames River, its valley, natural areas and prime agricultural land from a proposed large, open gravel pit.
A sold out meet-the-candidates and fundraising dinner, also attended by London-Fanshawe MP Irene Mathyssen, was held on April 21 at Damen’s Restaurant in St. Marys.
“The response to the first of what will be a number of meet-the-candidates events for all progressives in Perth-Wellington was very positive as we had both party and non-party members attend,” said Verhulst.
Entertainment at the event was provided by popular performers Barb Fulton and Paul Shilton as well as author and performer Alison Wearing and singer songwriter Jarmo Jalava, who is also director of ecosystem recovery for the Carolinian Canada Coalition.
