Independent candidates, 2007 Ontario provincial election

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

There were several independent candidates in the 2007 Ontario provincial election, none of whom were elected. Some of these candidates have their own biography pages; information about others may be found here.

[edit] J. David Popescu (Sudbury)

Popescu is a perennial candidate in Sudbury elections at the federal, provincial and municipal levels.[1] He worked at Inco in his twenties, but quit in 1972 after embracing fundamentalist Christianity. He has said that he does not campaign to win votes, but rather to warn citizens of the judgement he believes will be visited upon them by the Christian God if they do not live their lives in accordance with Biblical commands.[2]

Popescu believes that decisions made by elected officials have made it difficult for citizens to avoid sinful activity. "The casino, pornography and undoing the Lord's Day are opening the door for sin that destroys," he said in the 2000 municipal election. "If we violate (God's) standards, we're doomed from the start."[3] On other occasions, he said that popular music stores should be closed because they "promote Satanic music", and likened Sudbury's annual Dragon Boat races to the devil.[4] Popescu has also argued that natural disasters and other catastrophes are divine judgement for earthly sins.[5]

He has distributed a self-produced video during his campaigns, featuring a series of his sermons. In 2003, the Sudbury Star noted that this recording contained messages directed against homosexuals. In one sermon, Popescu says, "God burnt five homosexual cities alive, including women and children, as an example of what we are supposed to do to them. Instead, our evil government gives them rights."[6]

Popescu was charged with assault against his elderly mother in 2003, after a family member reported seeing a large bruise on her arm.[7] Testifying at a bail court hearing, Popescu said that he had given his mother a "small swat and a light shake" to get her attention when she was not paying attention to him. He expressed remorse for his action, but argued that it was not serious and did not constitute assault. He also testified that he had been violent toward his mother in the past, but that this abuse had ended over 25 years earlier. Under cross examination from the assistant crown attorney, Popescu said that he had lived with his mother for his entire life, and became her primary caregiver after his father's death in 1969. He said that he had not worked in the community since 1972, and that he considered looking after his mother to be his full-time job.[8]

Popescu lived at a Salvation Army men's shelter after being released on bail, and was found guilty of assault after a day-long trial.[9] He was sentenced to three years probation, and was required to report for a psychological assessment.[10] He subsequently received part-time work at the Salvation Army, and has continued to protest his innocence.[11]

Electoral record
Election Division Party Votes  % Place Winner
1999 provincial Sudbury Independent 103 0.28 6/6 Rick Bartolucci, Liberal
2000 municipal Mayor of Greater Sudbury n/a not listed <1 6/6 James K. Gordon
2003 municipal Mayor of Greater Sudbury n/a 42 0.08 14/14 David Courtemanche
2006 federal Sudbury Independent 54 0.11 8/8 Diane Marleau, Liberal
2006 municipal Mayor of Greater Sudbury n/a 76 0.14 7/7 John Rodriguez
2007 provincial Sudbury Independent 124 0.38 6/6 Rick Bartolucci, Liberal

Note: This list may not be complete.

[edit] Footnotes

  1. ^ Chris Polehoykie, "Gordon the favourite in historic election", Sudbury Star, 14 October 2000, A1.
  2. ^ Chris Polehoykie, "Candidates a sincere, but inexperienced, group", Sudbury Star, 12 November 2000, A3; Harold Carmichael, "Gordon `deserved to win,' rival says", Sudbury Star, 14 November 2000, A8; "Candidate wants to spread God's word", Sudbury Star, 17 January 2006, A4.
  3. ^ Chris Polehoykie, "Gordon promises to cut taxes in new city", Sudbury Star, 20 October 2000, A1.
  4. ^ Bob Vaillancourt, "Mayoral candidates talk roads, God", Sudbury Star, 18 October 2003, A1; Laura Stradiotto, "Mayoral candidate blasts debate", Sudbury Star, 7 November 2003, A3.
  5. ^ Chris Polehoykie, "Candidates a sincere, but inexperienced, group", Sudbury Star, 12 November 2000, A3. Following the 2000 election, Popescu said that victorious candidate James K. Gordon "deserved to win" for the work he had done for the city. See Harold Carmichael, "Gordon `deserved to win,' rival says", Sudbury Star, 14 November 2000, A8.
  6. ^ Rob O'Flanagan, "The Bible guides candidate's campaign", Sudbury Star, 24 October 2003, A3.
  7. ^ "Law and morals candidate accused of assaulting mother", National Post, 13 June 2003, A8.
  8. ^ Denis St. Pierre, "Bible-thumping candidate charged with hitting mother", Sudbury Star, 13 June 2003, A1.
  9. ^ Acting as his own representative, Popescu said had committed "unintentional assault" while "disciplining" his mother in a dispute over the placement of towels in their home. See Denis St. Pierre, "'I wanted her to feel it ... to get her to listen'", Sudbury Star, 23 October 2003, A1; Rob O'Flanagan, "The Bible guides candidate's campaign", Sudbury Star, 24 October 2003, A3.
  10. ^ Lara Bradley, "No jail time for mayoral candidate", Sudbury Star, 25 October 2003, A3.
  11. ^ "Candidate wants to spread God's word", Sudbury Star, 17 January 2006, A4.