NDP members pick rookie candidate to take on MPP Nicholls

Jordan McGrail chosen to represent Chatham-Kent-Leamington riding

TILBURY Local NDP members have chosen political rookie Jordan McGrail to be the party’s candidate for Chatham-Kent-Leamington in the upcoming provincial election.

On Saturday, McGrail defeated longtime New Democrat Dan Gelinas, who represented the NDP in the 2014 provincial election, during a candidate nomination meeting hosted by the Chatham-KentLeamington Ontario NDP Riding Association in Tilbury.

“I feel pretty humble,” McGrail told Postmedia News after winning the nomination.

“But, I feel that we have a fight and that I have the energy and I have the community behind me, and we have a real chance at making a difference here in ChathamKent-Leamington,” she added.

McGrail, who said she is “close to that 40 number” when asked her age, has been politically active for the past 18 months advocating across the province to save public services in Canada and Ontario.

She is concerned about the effect of services such as Hydro One and the OLG becoming privatized.

“Our coffers of Ontario ... they’re becoming empty,” McGrail said.

“If we don’t have this money from assets like Hydro One and OLG, how are we going to pay for good schools, how are we going to pay for hospitals, how are we going to pay for road clearing?”

She is ready to take on the challenge of contesting incumbent Progressive Conservative MPP Rick Nicholls, who is seeking a third term, and is not worried about her lack of political experience.

“Millennials are now passing baby boomers as the most eligible age group to vote,” McGrail said. “When I look at a millennial and I look at what they need, I’ve been through their struggles ... and I think they can relate better to myself.”

She also believes being wellversed in social media and how to connect with younger voters will be an asset. And she feels the skills she has gained advocating to save public services, and the skills to mobilize communities, will also help her as a politician.

Local NDP riding association president John Willatt, said, “I’m delighted for Jordan, because she represents the next generation.”

He noted some people may see the younger generation as being apathetic, but he pointed to the fact McGrail won over a more experienced candidate on Saturday.

McGrail said she is looking forward to getting out to meet people in the community and getting people engaged. She said it is important to keep rural Ontario going “so our kids have the chance to stay here and have a great family and great community, just like we did growing up.”

People are excited by someone of Jordan’s age coming into the process and hopefully winning the next election.