Only 8 – EIGHT! – days until the 2013 Ontario Liberal Party leadership convention in Toronto, & I’m in organized chaos mode trying to figure out payments, fundraising, travel, & so forth. Because I’ve focused more on LGBT blogging & Twitter lately, here are a few random thoughts before I get too busy to think:
Fundraising: I realized the other day that 2013 is a Liberal anniversary for me: the first campaign for which I volunteered was the 1993 federal election. (For the record, I made calls on behalf of Jim Peterson in Willowdale. Hands up if you remember the when voter lists came from dot matrix printers!) Over the years, provincially & federally, I’ve been a volunteer, supporter, member, & director; served in several executive positions for three riding associations; & attended many regional meetings, AGMs, and conventions. Heck, I even attended the 2009 federal faux-leadership convention in Vancouver.
And, of course, over the years I’ve donated money to both the LPC & OLP, been a member of the Victory Fund, ABC, Laurier Club etc. Now I’m looking for Ontario Liberal members & supporters to help me to offset convention costs. I would really appreciate your support & these donations are not to me personally, but to the OLP in my name – so they’re tax-deductible.
More about fundraising soon (I’m hoping to do videos) but please consider contributing through this direct link.
Delegates: Naturally I was pleased as punch to be elected as one of – if I’m not mistaken – 5 Kathleen Wynne delegates from Ottawa Centre, especially after it was reported today that the tally was 21/130 (in 7 ridings plus 2 university clubs). “Humbled” is the right word. I moved (back) to this riding in August 2011 after a ten-year absence & I’m much better known in the hinterland. So thank you, thank you, thank you, Ontario Liberals of Ottawa Centre.
I’m hearing some anger online at the way in which we’re choosing Dalton McGuinty’s replacement. One-member-one-vote has been put before the membership in the past, but collectively we’ve put off making the change. I would suspect, however – especially since the federal Liberals have gone with a preferential ballot – that this will be the last of the old-style, delegated conventions in Ontario, possibly in Canada.
I’m in favour of OMOV & preferential balloting but let’s be honest: delegated conventions are more fun. As an old hack, I will miss them, even as I recognize that, yes, for sure, every single party member deserves a say.
Tribal politics: What has surprised me, but probably shouldn’t have, is that certain operatives from certain leadership camps aren’t being very nice. It’s not that I’ve personally been treated with anything less than respect, but I have noticed that some folks online shut down communication after I made my support of Wynne public, & some of what they’re saying about the other candidates verges on nasty.
I’ve had to “mute” a few people on Twitter but I’m sure we’ll all be friends again, once my candidate prevails. 
Blogging: Attention all bloggers! The OLP now has a form up to apply for blogger accreditation. As usual, thanks are due to Scott Tribe of Progressive Bloggers for his hard work in pushing the party to make this happen, & I look forward to seeing my blogger friends in Toronto.
Will you be at the convention, as a blogger, delegate, ex-oficio, party worker or press? Let me know via my Twitter account if you’d like to meet up. Many of us know each other rather more well online than in real life & this is a great opportunity to put faces (the real-life variety, rather than avatars) to names.