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NDP opts for youth against Hansen
By Naoibh O'Connor-Staff writer
Jarrah Hodge wants to become a member of an exclusive club this May. The 19-year-old New Democrat is campaigning for the Vancouver-Quilchena seat in B.C.'s legislature. If she wins it, she'll be the youngest politician elected to the provincial legislature and among only a handful of those under 30 who've managed to become MLAs.
It's an unlikely scenario, however. Not only does Liberal incumbent and Finance Minister Colin Hansen, first elected in 1996, have a stranglehold on Vancouver-Quilchena-landing close to 74 per cent of the popular vote in the 2001 race, but young politicians traditionally haven't fared well in B.C. politics.
While it's impossible to say how many candidates aged 18 to 30 have vied for elected office, less than 10 have succeeded at the ballot box.
Hodge, a women's studies student at UBC and an employee with the Vancouver Public Library, isn't letting such details affect her campaign. "I'm trying not to focus on numbers. I'm trying to engage voters and get more people involved," she said. "Age isn't always a marker of experience and experience isn't always a marker of who's going to make a good elected official."
Her background includes membership on the NDP's provincial council and a job with Vancouver East NDP MP Libby Davies.
Hodge's foray into politics was sparked by a comment from a Grade 11 teacher at her Courtenay high school, who listened to the teen constantly complain in class about Liberal government education cuts. "She said, 'With views like yours, you should join the NDP.'" Hodge followed her teacher's advice.
She hopes her candidacy encourages other women to seek office. She's also concerned about long-term care for seniors and rising post-secondary tuition fees.
NDP leader Carole James said the party has always tried to attract youth, some of whom sit on the provincial executive. James maintains they're not token positions and that young people have an active voice within the NDP. "I'm proud of the fact a lot of young people are involved in the party. It shows youth are engaged with politics and the values of New Democrats," she said. "These are people who are standing up to the injustices they see under Gordon Campbell."
James noted Hodge has been involved in social issues like the fight to protect women's centres from provincial budget cuts.
But young candidates are sometimes seen as sacrificial lambs in the political arena, especially in ridings like Vancouver-Quilchena where they have almost no chance of winning.
In the 2001 election, 19-year-old delivery driver Gareth Richmond ran for the NDP against Hansen in Vancouver-Quilchena. Both Richmond and then premier Ujjal Dosanjh admitted his chances were slim. Near the end of the campaign, Richmond actually left the city to attend a socialist convention in Cuba, returning a few days before the election. Hansen won in a landslide victory.
Hodge says this year the NDP is more prepared, and that in 2001 the party didn't have a candidate for the riding until after the writ was dropped. The polls also look more promising for the NDP than five years ago.
But historically few young people have won seats in the legislature, based on statistics collected up to November 2003.
Liberal Karn Manhas, MLA for Port Coquitlam-Burke Mountain, is the youngest. He landed a seat in 2001 at age 24, but won't be running in the May election. Only eight others under the age of 30 have been elected.
"It's not good numbers," conceded James. "That really points to making sure politics are accessible to everyone. I think the legislature should represent the faces of British Columbians-and youth are one of those faces."
As for the chances of taking Vancouver-Quilchena, James is realistic.
"We know that's a challenging riding for us no matter who's running," she said.
posted on 04/06/2005
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