Signs point to spring election

BY JOHN MINER AND JONATHAN SHER Free Press Reporters Anyone looking for a sign a provincial election lies ahead need look no further than the corner of York and Colborne streets in downtown London. On a blue billboard, the colour of the Progressive Conservatives, Dianne Cunningham smiles above a slogan used by Premier Ernie Eves "Experience for the road ahead." Any candidate who is At Right: - from the London Free Press, March 17, 2003

serious about winning a seat has been laying the groundwork since last fall, said Bob Wood (PC London West). "Some are going door-todoor, some are out at events, and in Dianne's case, she's using a billboard," Wood said. Though the election might not come until the fall or even next year, it could be called as early as April 11 he said. One thing is certain: When Eves fires the starting gun, across the region, signs will be erected that feature familiar faces. In the 10 ridings in the London area, nine members of the provincial parliament are going to try to keep their political jobs.

The State of Election Readiness: Well, they almost got it right. Missing is Freedom Party's candidate for London-North Centre, Lisa Turner, who was also nominated and registered well prior to the appearance of this front-page London Free Press article.

March 11, 2003: Following is a list of Freedom Party candidates who were already registered or were in the process of being registered with Elections Ontario as of this date (ordered alphabetically, by riding):

Three of them are Liberals - Steve Peters, Caroline Di Cocco and Pat Hoy.
The party has chosen six candidates in the seven other Loridon-area ridings. The Conservatives are next with eight candidates selected. The NDP has nominated four candidates.
The only incumbent in the London area with a question mark beside his name is Oxford UPP Ernie Hardeman, who was recently promoted to a cauinet position by Eves. Hardeman could not be reached for comment.
The Conservatives took seven out of the 10 ridings in the last provincial election. Winners from that round who are already nominated are Marcel Beaubien, Bert Johnson, Cunningham, Wood, and Frank Mazzilli.
Huron-Bruce MPP and Agriculture Minister Helen Johns hasn't been nominated yet, but has committed to going after the nomination.
The election will feature some rematches with several former members of the legislature trying to reclaim their ridings.
Conservative Bruce Smith is trying to come back in Elgin-Middlesex-London against Peters, who won the riding by a slim 1,171 votes in 1999. Also running again in the riding is Ray Monteith, who polled 405 votes for the Freedom Party.
Another rematch is in London-Fanshawe, where former NDP MPP Irene Mathyssen is running against Mazzilli. Mazzilli took 38.5 per cent of the vote last time, followed by Liberal candidate Peter Mancini with 35 per cent and Mathyssen with 24.6 per cent.
The Liberals have scheduled their nomination meeting for the riding for March 30. Prominent London municipal politician Bud Polhill has announced he will run.
A third rematch is in Perth-Middlesex, where Liberal candidate John Wil inson is running against incumbent Bert Johnson. Johnson won the riding last time by more than 6,000 votes.
Robert Smink is running in the riding again for the Freedom Party.
The Freedom Party, Green Party and Family Coalition Parties have all nominated candidates in the London region.
Last election, the Freedom Party had 14 candidates across Ontario. This time it will field more than 40, said party president Robert Metz.
"We are going to be a factor in this election," he said.
The Freedom Party has eight candidates nominated in the 10 London area ridings, while the Green Party has four and the Family Coalition Party has one. (on p. 7 of the Freedom Flyer, see the image that accompanied this article).