Chatham-Kent Essex NDP candidate Dan Gelinas on election night 2014. Photo Greg Holden
Scrolling through “The Rant & Rave” on Facebook is a popular pastime of over 4500 people in Chatham-Kent and the surrounding area. One night last month, while I was doing a last check before bed, I came across Greg Holden’s post asking for essay entries to be A Journalist for a Day. The prize? Cover one of the parties on election night (editors note: and a free dinner) and write a short article to be published in the CKReview News. I entered, telling myself, that I can’t win if I don’t try. Well, I tried and I was chosen and here I am, nervously wiping my hands on my pants as I walk up to the Chatham Banquet Center on one of the biggest nights of Dan Gelinas political careers and quite possibly mine as well.
Now, all good journalists do research before actually speaking with their interviewee and I am no different. My research found that Mr. Gelinas is married and has seven children, he has lived in Chatham-Kent-Essex for over 20 years and has been a card-carrying New Democrat Party member since 1979. He is retired from Chrysler Canada, Navistar and Benteler and spends his spare time volunteering with local hockey and baseball associations. What this research doesn’t tell you is how incredibly personable and welcoming Mr. Gelinas is. I was introduced to him by his brother Tim, whom I had met when I first arrived and as we stood outside talking I was lucky enough to also meet most of his children as they arrived to support their father.
15 minutes before the polls closed, we stood outside in the parking lot and the atmosphere was happy and hopeful. The crowd gathering was buzzing about the day’s events, what the outcome might be and if Chatham-Kent-Essex would turn orange. Gelinas was quick to point out that this was “not an election against Rick, but people are fed up with the Liberals and scared of Hudak and his 100,000 job plan so you just never know.” Then his phone rang. He pulls it out and Lorne Nystrom was calling to wish him bonne chance. Gelinas met Nystrom when they were both in Yorkton in 1982 and they are best friends to this day. At the time of his first victory, in 1968, Nystrom was the youngest Canadian to be elected to Parliament.
I asked Mr. Gelinas if he was buoyed by the polls last night that put the NDP in first place in this region ahead of today’s vote. His reply? He was cautious. The NDP’s goal was to “turn SW Ontario orange” so he was excited to see the numbers last night but cautious because you just never know.
He was quick to point out that there were a lot of first time voters this year, in the 20 to 40 year-old age range, which told him that people are fed up and want change and with the NDP slowly gaining voters (up 28% over the last four elections) this might be the year. My interview was wrapping up but I had one last question on behalf of my daughter. My 11-year-old daughter, Emily (which is a favourite name of Gelinas’ as his grandma and niece both share it) participated, with her school in a school vote. When I told her that I was speaking to Mr. Gelinas she was quite excited and asked me if I could ask him a question for her. Her question? “What is the best part of your job?” His response was, “That is a great question, you make sure to tell her that. The best part of this job? Definitely meeting the people and listening to their concerns, then trying to find an answer that is acceptable to all parties.”
Early results in Chatham-Kent-Essex changed by the minute, with first Liberals leading and then four minutes later the PC’s and the margin stayed around 50 to 100 votes. At 9:30 p.m. Nicholls was ahead of Gelinas by only 15 votes. The atmosphere was electric. Every riding that had an NDP candidate leading or elected was met with cheers and clapping. Eight minutes later Nicholls lead was over 500 and it kept steadily growing until it was official. Rick Nicholls was re-elected in the Chatham-Kent-Essex riding. After being a part of 39 campaigns over the years, with this his first time running, Gelinas remained proud of his campaign and his party and was content. Whatever the outcome of the vote, people were now talking, discussing and starting to take a stand.
It was an honour meeting Gelinas last night. I learned more about politics during this interview and doing the research for it then I had ever known. If you ever have the chance, I recommend going to a campaign headquarters for the party you support on an election night. Whether your party wins or loses you won’t be disappointed.
