Random Access

Phil Green, who is a gracious man and my co-nominee for best federal candidate never to get elected in Mississauga (along with former Peel District School Board Chair Bill Kent) was standing at the door of Paul Szabo’s campaign office, looking a little forlorn.
He wanted to concede to the Liberal incumbent last night after a hard-fought campaign that appeared to leave him a couple of thousand votes short of breaking the stranglehold the Grits and Szabo have had on Mississauga South since 1993.
One little problem. There was no Paul Szabo to congratulate.
Just as I’m beginning to interview Green about his impressions of the campaign, out of the gloom comes Szabo, holding hands with his wife Linda.
Thus ensues one of the strangest political conversations I’ve ever heard. Green tries to concede, but Szabo acts like he’s trying to jinx him by even suggesting he’s won already.
Szabo tells his opponent the story of how CTV’s Harvey Kirk declared him the winner in his first election in 1980 with one poll to go.
“Then the advance poll came in and I ended up losing by 400,” says Szabo.
In fact, as the two continue to talk, it’s hard to tell who's conceding to whom.
“You ran an excellent campaign,” Szabo tells Green. “We had one of the closest races in the whole GTA.”
As it turns out, the “tentative congratulations” that Green offers with a big smile and a handshake will actually hold when the results finally become known a couple of excruciatingly-long hours later.
Szabo and Green obviously respect and like each other, despite the strains of the campaign trail.
Szabo probably sees a little of himself in Green. After all, Szabo suffered two losses to the original Mississauga Mouth That Roared, Don Blenkarn, one of them in that incredibly tight 1980 race, before he broke through to victory.
Both are candidates with deep roots in the community who worked on lots of low-profile, grunt projects to earn their political spurs...not like so many Johnny-Come-Latelies who dominate the party slates these days by packing nomination meetings with their ethnic group or their special interest buddies.
Just like Blenkarn, who faced an insurrection and a nomination challenge from within his own party for his controversial style, Szabo had to beat back an assault by unhappy fellow Grits last year.
As Green runs towards his car, I flag him down for one more critical question: Will he run again when this minority government falls?
“That’s like asking your wife right after she’s delivered your second child if she wants another,” he laughs. “It’s sometimes good to give things some time.”
Just before he dips his head into the car, Green adds one more telling thought however: “I do have three kids.”
* * *
Carolyn Parrish talked about the “cities’ agenda” as part of CBC Radio’s expert political panel on the election yesterday on The Current, then she implemented a little city agenda of her own.
While appearing live downtown on the CBC show on the first day she hasn’t been an MP in 13 years, Parrish said Stephen Harper and his new Conservative government had better clue in fast on the urban divide. The Tories didn't elect a single member in Toronto, Montreal or Vancouver.
“He’d better address the cities’ agenda or he’s going to be kicked so far out he won’t know where to land,” said Parrish.
Maybe she was practicing up for her new gig.
Parrish went from the CBC directly to City Hall, where she officially registered to run for Ward 6 councillor against Ron Starr.
When God slams shut the federal door, he apparently opens a little municipal window.