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Lorene Mahoney has officially declared her intention to seek the Federal NDP nomination for the riding of Elmwood – Transcona. Lorene previously ran in the 2004 federal election as a candidate in Kildonan - St. Paul. She received a Bachelor of Nursing Degree from the University of Manitoba. Lorene has 31 years of nursing experience and is currently employed as a Long Term Care Consultant with Manitoba Health and a casual nurse at St. Boniface General Hospital. Lorene is Vice Chair of the Highway Transportation Board and a member of the Motor Transport Board. She has been a community activist for many years, participating in numerous community groups and organizations. Lorene is currently an Executive member of the New Democratic Party of Manitoba and a member of the Congress of Black Women of Canada, Manitoba Chapter. Born in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Lorene was raised in Transcona and was valedictorian of her graduating class from Murdoch MacKay Collegiate.

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Originally posted by flight from kamakura:
sounds good, but why so damned old?

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Originally posted by flight from kamakura:
sounds good, but why so damned old?

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I think, for many people, it can take a long time to get to the point where they can run for office. There can be lots of reasons for that: all sorts of obstacles. (I don't see any need to list them. We all know what they are.) It seems to me too bad that having fought through to a certain point in her life where she is ready and able to do this, she should be told, "But you're so old".

[ 19 February 2008: Message edited by: RosaL ]

and it's a serious questions: why do progressives have to be old to be taken seriously? i mean, you can be elected as a conservative at 28, but a 28 year old progressive would be laughed off the stage.

and i'm aware that there are 2 exceptions, i'm just making a point in general

[ 19 February 2008: Message edited by: flight from kamakura ]

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Originally posted by flight from kamakura:
why do progressives have to be old to be taken seriously? i mean, you can be elected as a conservative at 28, but a 28 year old progressive would be laughed off the stage.

[ 19 February 2008: Message edited by: flight from kamakura ]

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They shouldn't have to be old. I think it's often a matter of people working their way up through the political system. It takes time! (My point is that it's not a prejudice against the young. But I think this is a bad system for many reasons, one of which is that it works against young people, newcomers, and people who lack connections.)

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Originally posted by flight from kamakura:
well, nothing against her personally, it just seems like we've got a really old caucus!

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and it's a serious questions: why do progressives have to be old to be taken seriously?

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i mean, you can be elected as a conservative at 28, but a 28 year old progressive would be laughed off the stage.

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and i'm aware that there are 2 exceptions, i'm just making a point in general

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Originally posted by Boze:
Don't be an ass, Unionist.

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Originally posted by Adam T:
I don't think we should either discriminate against older people running for office or be prejudicial against younger people, but try and judge everyone on their own merits.

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A member of the Doer government said he may take a shot at running in NDP MP Bill Blaikie's soon-to-be-vacant seat in Elmwood-Transcona.

MLA Jim Maloway, a left-leaning maverick in the centrist provincial NDP, said there's a significant movement to draft him to run. He said there's about a 50-50 chance he'll make the leap into federal politics.

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Originally posted by Adam T:
Nathan Cullen is one of the most respected members of the NDP caucus and he's under 35.

I think Peter Julian was under 40 when he was first elected as well.

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The breakdown is as follows:

1 in their 30's

4 in their 40's

17 in their 50's; with 10 of those being 55 and under, several of whom started in their 40's as MP's, like; Pat M, Yvon G. and Charlie A. While many of those in their later 50's also started as MP's in their 40's like Bill B., Alexa M., and Judy WL.

8 in their 60's

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Originally posted by remind:

The breakdown is as follows:

1 in their 30's

4 in their 40's

17 in their 50's; with 10 of those being 55 and under, several of whom started in their 40's as MP's, like; Pat M, Yvon G. and Charlie A. While many of those in their later 50's also started as MP's in their 40's like Bill B., Alexa M., and Judy WL.

8 in their 60's

mean age 54.5%

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Originally posted by Stockholm:
The guy has been in the leg. for 21 years without ever being appointed to any post in the Manitoba government.

Sounds like an NDP version of Tony Ruprecht!!

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As President of the Canadian Union of Public Employees, which represents over 24,000 public service workers in Manitoba, Kevin has been an advocate for strong communities, safe workplaces and fairness.

He's also served in a number of other elected positions within the Labour movement over the past 15 years including Vice President for the Manitoba Federation of Labour, General Vice President for CUPE National and 2nd Vice President for the Winnipeg Labour Council. Kevin has been active in our community through a variety of organizations such as the United Way, Local Investment Towards Employment, the Premier's Economic Advisory Council - Healthcare Task Force, the Manitoba Community Services Council, The Optimists, and Rossbrook House.

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Originally posted by David Young:
Bill B.? I thought Bill Blaikie was 29 when he first won the seat of WINNIPEG-BIRDS HILL in 1979!

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One of the marks against Roy Romanow in Saskatchewan was that he would not appoint young MLAs to Cabinet. RJR, who was Deputy Premier and Attorney General at 29 appointed precisely two ministers under the age of 40 - both of whom were 39-1/2 at the time of appointment.

Tommy Douglas (39 years 8 months when he became premier) would likely not have been able to get into a Roy Romanow cabinet. Roy Romanow (DP&AG at 29) certainly wouldn't have.

The bizarre agism of the Saskatchewan NDP continued unabated. At one point, despite several eminently qualified applicants of varying ages, the party chose to appoint 60 something Ed Tchorzewski as acting provincial secretary.

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Originally posted by montrealais:
I'm also a member of that very select group of people who voted for myself the first time I was eligible to vote in a federal election

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Originally posted by Rich L:
I haven't heard any rumours of her running for the nomination in Blaikie's seat, though some folks I know have suggested she run for city council, possibly in Harvey Smith's seat, once/if he retires (which he should do at the next election).

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And 'going up through the ranks' or putting in your time as an activist in the NDP is not required to get a nomination- nor is someone else having that going to get them the nomination.

With the caveat that I hear ONDP riding associations tend to be more cliquish and old-guardish. But I just hear that, don't know it to be true.

At any rate- I think the main obstacle by far in getting more younger candidates is simply being able to attract them into wanting to go for it.

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Originally posted by KenS:
And the membership is still pretty heavy on the older [than average] side.

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