It was not the Ides of March but September 27, 2011 is a day to remember.
The writ for the provincial election in Manitoba was "dropped" on Tuesday September 6, 2011. Candidates hit the pavement, support signage decorated lawns and the customary negative advertising dominated the media.
Here in the riding of River Heights Dr. Jon Gerrard leader of the Manitoba Liberals squared off against lawyer Marty Morantz and the conservative election machine. Both candidates knew the campaign would not be a cake walk and worked hard for each vote.
As the weeks passed the polsters called homes, leaflets were left in mailboxes by hard working loyal supporters and the signage battle continued while Messrs. Gerrard and Morantz fretted.
A local journalist described Dr. Gerrard in her post election column of October 5 as
"a level-headed gentleman who puts thoughtful policy ahead of partisan gamesmanship, he leads a rump of a party that nonetheless presented most of this campaign's few good ideas".
Dr. Gerrard was elected leader of the Provincial Liberal party in 1998 and has been the River Heights MLA since 1999. To a person, all Manitobans agree, Dr. Gerrard is a decent man with unlimited energy to keep his party alive.
The 4th of October was vote day and Dr. Gerrard survived but first comes September 27. The 27th is a day I will not forget. On this day two former Liberal MPs along with 2 others write to the residents of the Seine River riding declaring their support for a candidate not running for Gerrard's LIberal team and exhort Seine River liberals to vote for another party. The authors claimed the Seine River riding was unique and their letter throwing the Manitoba Liberal party and its team members under the bus was necessary.
The now "politically" retired authors owe much to their supporters and their party for the success they enjoyed and pensions they now receive. The flimsy excuse proffered for their action fails to recognize that they turned on their team, that their conduct discourages young aspiring political candidates and they insulted a decent man who has toiled for a political party without which the authors' success doubtful.
How can we think anything other than Et tu Brute!!
No matter what party you support the candidates running for the Provincial Liberals and Dr. Gerrard are owed a huge apology. Sadly it was an excuse.
From this experience we learn - be mindful of the importance of team play, remember how we achieved our success and those who helped us to reach our goals.
Just imagine trailing behind by a goal, the coach pulls the goalie and one of your teammates turns and shoots the puck into his team's empty net.
September 27 was such a day.
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