London's top Green vote-getter switches allegiance to Liberals
Thu, January 8, 2009
By CHIP MARTIN
The Green party has suffered a setback in London as its leading local face has switched to the Liberals.
Monica Jarabek, who contested the 2004 and 2008 elections under the Green banner in London West, was the top Green vote-getter in the area.
A 33-year-old school teacher and mother of three, Jarabek drew 5,630 votes in the 2008 vote, placing fourth in the riding won by Conservative Ed Holder.
The well-spoken Jarabek also helped in the 2006 byelection in London-North-Centre where Green Leader Elizabeth May sought to win the party's first seat in Parliament.
Her move comes as Liberals in London West contemplate a candidate to replace long-time Liberal Sue Barnes, who was defeated by Holder.
Asked if she might consider seeking the Liberal nomination for the next federal vote, Jarabek replied: "I'm keeping an open mind about my role in the next election. I won't rule that out. It would be an honour."
Jarabek, who also ran for council unsuccessfully in 2006, said she took out Liberal party membership just before Christmas.
"I'm hoping to transfer more 'green thinkers' to the Liberal party, whether they are from the Green party or not," she said.
She said she has no regrets about her long association with the Greens and reaction to her move has been mostly positive.
"Now I realize we are running out of time on the climate crisis and I see the Liberal party has come a long way as far as green philosophies," she said.
"The Liberal party is full of excellent people and it has attracted a lot of 'green thinkers' like (MPs) Glen Pearson and Justin Trudeau and Ruby Dhalla," she said.
"These are people who I think are leaders of the future and I want to work with them to make that change."
Jarabek's defection comes at a tough time for the party whose leader, May, has been quoted as being anxious to get a seat in the Senate.
Key staffers have also left party headquarters.