But such is exactly the case for a guy who used to be a very heavy hitter in
Tim Murphy was chief of staff to former prime minister Paul Martin. Numerous people who had dealings with that office have told me he was good at his job. Read the many references in former chief of defense staff Rick Hillier’s new book or talk to the mayor of
Before that, Murphy was a Liberal MPP for two years in what was then called the riding of St. George-St. David. And he’s a past president of the Ontario Liberals as well.
Why raise all this?
Because once deputy premier George Smitherman resigns his Toronto Centre seat to run for mayor of
And if he wants to, Murphy should run for that seat and here’s why:
· It’s familiar territory. It’s pretty much the same turf he represented during his stint in the Ontario Legislature in the mid-1990s.
· It’s a very safe Liberal seat. If he runs, he’ll win.
· It’s a sure bet that Murphy will move right into cabinet, although certainly no one in the premier’s office will confirm that. With the loss of Gerard Kennedy to federal politics, Joe Cordiano to the private sector, and Michael Bryant (initially to Invest Toronto, and now with legal problems to resolve), the McGuinty government is suffering from a lack of heavy-hitters. Murphy’s addition would address that.
· Finally, and we’re really getting ahead of ourselves here, if McGuinty wins re-election in 2011, then steps down a few years after that, Murphy would be ideally positioned to compete for the leadership of the party.
So, will he do it?
No one knows and I suspect Murphy himself doesn’t know. He’s already left the private practice of law twice to enter public life and no doubt, each time one attempts to return to the private sector, it’s a bit more disruptive.
Also, the pay is unquestionably a heckuva lot better in his current job at McMillan LLP.
And finally, there’s no sure bet he’d win the nomination. Sachin Agarwal, the director of operations in Michael Ignatieff’s office, and Glen Murray, the former mayor of
Whoever ends up competing for the riding, they may have a bit more time to make a decision. George Smitherman has indicated his desire to stay on the job as an MPP until the end of March, which means there’s no obligation on the premier to call a byelection until September 2010.
But that clear line of vision to the finish line has probably never looked so crystal clear for Tim Murphy. Talk about a tough decision.
Forgetting, choosing or just following orders???
posted by J.C. Pro on 27 November 2009 at 11:38 PM
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Another white guy?
Steve, it's more than a bit disappointing, after all the shows you've done on the importance of getting more women and visible minorities elected, that when a "winnable" seat as you call it comes open, your first thought is yet another white guy.
Are there no "heavy-hitters" who are women or members of ethnic communities that you can think of? No-one but another white guy insider qualified or strategically savvy enough to replace Dalton McGuinty?
Please go back to the drawing board and think about this again. If parties don't nominate women or members of other underrepresented groups in vacant incumbent seats, we will never improve the representativeness of our democracy.
Something you already know, in fact, but are forgetting to apply when it really counts.
posted by A reader on 26 November 2009 at 10:43 PM