Kate Schwass
SIMCOE REFORMER
Friday June 15, 2007
Lorraine Bergstrand is not the type of politician who will hold her tongue if she thinks something is wrong.
"I’m probably going to get myself into trouble during this election," Bergstrand said from her Dunnville home yesterday. "I’ve lived my life that way and I’m not going to change."
She hopes it’s her willingness to be open and her tell-it-like-it-is style that will win over local voters as she runs for the provincial Liberals in the new riding of Haldimand-Norfolk leading up to this fall’s election.
"I think people will see a difference in style," she said, comparing herself to current MPP Toby Barrett.
Both Barrett and Bergstrand agree: This is going to be an interesting race.
Barrett is the politician who attends local events, sometimes arriving on his tractor, and is sometimes viewed as the country boy who went to Queen’s Park to make a difference.
Bergstrand, who was acclaimed Wednesday night, is seen as a fierce fighter with a quick tongue.
In her recent bid to become mayor of Haldimand, Bergstrand didn’t hold back her thoughts about her rival, even after the ballots were counted.
While personality is certainly a factor when voters head to the polls, both Bergstrand and Barrett say voters need to look at accomplishments.
"The things they did, (it was) chaos," Bergstrand said of the Conservative party under leaders Mike Harris and Ernie Eves.
She admitted she was a Conservative supporter for many years but after too many mistakes, "I found I couldn’t associate myself with them any longer."
She said she is a supporter of Premier Dalton McGuinty.
"I know there’s some controversy, but I think he’s an ethical leader," she said, adding he is following a "good, strong, base-building path."
Barrett on the other hand said people in this riding don’t want McGuinty around any longer.
"It’s really not Dalton McGuinty country here," he said yesterday.
Barrett said he’s hearing from voters that they want change and he agrees with them.
"It is time for a change," he said. "I’m determined to fight this election and win this election . . . I’m not going away."
Bergstrand, though, is also not backing down as Ontario heads to the polls Oct. 10.
"The next government will be a Liberal government," she said. "I believe it with all my heart."