It is official, The Speculator reports, Sam Merulla is running for the NDP in Hamilton East – Stoney Creek.
Personally, I do not think he will win it. He is too polarizing and does not have much popularity outside of his homebase. It is too bad, I believe that Hamilton East needs strong representation and that the NDP was in the best position to offer that.
The other reason this bothers me is that if Merulla loses (as I expect he will), he will lose a lot of influence at City Hall. This will ultimately hurt my home neighborhood.
The part that bothers me the most, however, must be that I had to resign my membership in the Hamilton East – Stoney Creek NDP so I am unable to vote in the nomination contest.
Of course, Sam has matured a lot in the last year as a politician. Back in 2000 when he was first elected, many people (including myself) wrote him off at the start of the campaign. In September (voting was November 13th, I remember that ’cause I voted for myself on that day lol), Merulla spoke to the Hamilton East Kiwanis Boys’ and Girls’ Club Key Club and impressed most of us. It was at that point that I spoke (privately) in favour of him in the community. The point of that story, he may yet surprise me again and he may be able to capture enough votes in Ward 5 and on the western edges of Stoney Creek to carry the riding.
Joey, I think you under-estimate Sam quite a bit. Sam works damn hard for Ward 4 and he has a track record at City Hall that he can sell to the rest of the constituency. He has worked with the neighbouring Ward Councillor on numerous issues thus exposing him to issues East of Ward 4. Also, Ward 5 / Stoney Creek is very ethnically diverse and Sam will appeal to that demographic. I’m sure he’s done poll numbers to confirm he has a good chance, why would he risk his Council seat if there was a good chance he wouldn’t win? I bet the head of the NDP are cheering his nomination – he’s a star candidate that will add to their ranks. I’m not an NDPer, but I respect Sam as a Hamiltonian who is not afraid to fight for Hamilton and buck the trends.
I never said he did not work hard. I do have to say that he has a bad habit of caring more about getting on TV and in the paper than it does many other things. He has been asleep at the wheel on the C.D.’s bar issue. Staff should not have revealed it was operating unlicensed, Merulla should have known it was doing so.
The NDP has a good shot at this. Not sure if Sam is the right choice.
I think the NDP had a chance but a Merulla vs. Mossip battle has me betting on Mossip.