VOTE THE PARTY OR THE PERSON?

Citizens face this dilemma each time they mark their ballot. Established parties sometimes field weak candidates; new ones occasionally recruit a superstar.

How should we weigh the human element against the political one?

The Whig Standard’ editorial writers, Paul Schliesmann, Claude Scilley and I, confronted this question yesterday as we met to determine which candidate to support for the riding of Kingston and The Islands. We had already published four columns focusing only on the parties. One argued eloquently for the NDP, another spelled out Tory strengths. A community editorial board member exp0lained why he’d vote Liberal, and a fourth editorialist put forward the case for the Greens.

But which of the parties is offering the best candidates on his own merits - the best potential MP for Kingston and The Islands?

Incumbent Liberal Peter Milliken, Speaker of the House of Commons, was first elected in 1988. Milliken, a likable, well-briefed representative, has made much of his standing as Speaker, which he says gives him quick access to other federal ministers, though in a low-key way. He’s seen as fair-minded by all sides of the House, and we, too, judge him a throughly decent man.

But we worry about how this low-key MP would fare in opposition, which is where he seems destined to land if he wins locally. Milliken was never a Cabinet minister (the Speaker is elected among MPs) and is unlikely to play an important role in opposition. He may not be sufficiently aggressive to push Kingston’s issues effectively without the extra clout he claims the Speaker’s job now provides. He might languish in the background, amiable but ineffectual.

Now to the NDP’s Rob Hutchison. Hutchison has good experience as manager of Kingston Co-operative Homes, and serves as president of the Kingston Global Community Centre, raising awareness of international development and fair trade. He is a sincere, dedicated NDP spokesman.

Yet when he met with our editorial board, he was not nearly as conversant as the other candidates about Kingston’s needs. As an MP, we think he, like Milliken, would be agreeable. But he would be weak on local priorities and details.

This brings us to Lou Grimshaw of the Conservatives. With an MA from Royal Military College, Grimshaw knows Kingston and defence issues throughly. His past overseas service with the British army, NATO and the UN suggest that he brings global experience to his community.

Grimshaw does not appear to be from the so-called "scary" wing of the Tories; he was pragmatic and sensible when he met with our board, and clearly he has done his homework on community concerns. Nor is he a shrinking violet. As an MP, he would champion local interests competently. But he is also unlikely to be a member of a Harper Cabinet; the Tories have lots of defence expertise.

So what about the Greens’ Eric Walton? Walton’s background seems the most interesting of the four. As a teen, he lived in Europe, the Middle East and Asia. He’s a Queen’s graduate, and while still a student co-founded a company, Odyssey Travel, which he ran as a small business for several years. He then founded another successful business, which he sold in 2005.

Walton’s other activities, from the Social Planning Council to the Healthy Communities Initiative, suggest he cares deeply about Kingston. He spoke confidently about his vision to our board. We do not support all of his personal views, nor do all of us support the philosophy of the Green Party. But he’s an exciting, forceful champion of his causes, and we believe he would play the same role for Kingston.

Further, the Green Party itself is crisp and fresh, and if it elects just one MP Monday, it will spur change in federal politics. Were Walton that MP, Kingston, and Canada, would be well-served.

We support Eric Walton.