The Manitoba Liberal Party fielded a full slate of 57 candidates in the 2007 provincial election, and won two seats to remain as the third-largest party in the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba. Some of the party's candidates have their own biography pages; information about others may be found here.
Curry holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Philosophy and Mathematics, a Master of Arts degree in Philosophy, and a Masters of City Planning degree, all from the University of Manitoba. He was a teaching assistant at the University of Manitoba during the 2007 election, and was involved with several inner-city resident associations in Winnipeg. He is also a practising Catholic, and a liturgical musician.[1] During the 1990s, he called on the City of Winnipeg to take action against escort services and massage parlours operating in the city.[2]
Curry ran in the north Winnipeg division of River East in the 2003 provincial election. In 2007, he ran in the rural, southwestern Manitoba division of Arthur-Virden. He defended his choice to run in an area where he did not reside by citing family connections to the region, and by indicating that he wanted to give residents the option of voting for a Liberal candidate.[3]
| Election | Division | Party | Votes | % | Place | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2003 provincial | River East | Liberal | 286 | 2.97 | 3.3 | Bonnie Mitchelson, Progressive Conservative |
| 2007 provincial | Arthur-Virden | Liberal | 357 | 5.14 | 3/3 | Larry Maguire, Progressive Conservative |
Bellan was born in West Kildonan, and has lived in Winnipeg for all of his life. He has a Bachelor of Arts degree (1974) and a Master's Degree in Public Affairs (1983), both from the University of Manitoba. He was also accepted for a Bachelor of Laws program in 1976, but left to pursue a full-time career as a letter carrier with Canada Post. He first ran for the Manitoba legislature in the 1981 provincial election, as a candidate of Sidney Green's newly-formed Progressive Party.
Bellan became co-publisher and business manager of the Jewish Post & News in 1984, and remains involved with the paper as of 2007. He was 53 years old during the 2007 campaign.[4]
Bellan was an investor in the Crocus Investment Fund, and was among the first to raise concerns about the fund's stability in a 2002 article entitled "Some things you may not have known about the Crocus Fund".[5] The fund threatened a lawsuit, and Bellan withdrew from the story for a time.[6] Crocus failed in 2004-05, and Bellan subsequently became the lead plaintiff in a $200 million dollar class-action lawsuit against the fund.[7] He filed a separate $200 million suit against the Government of Manitoba in 2006, charging that the government was responsible for damages suffered by shareholders.[8]
Bellan originally planned to run for the Liberal Party in the Tuxedo division in 2007, but was persuaded to run in Assiniboia instead.[9] He acknowledged that he did not expect to win, and said that his sole purpose in running was to embarrass the government of Gary Doer over the Crocus fund. At one public meeting, he called for voters to support either the Liberals or the Progressive Conservatives in order to defeat the New Democratic Party.[10]
On another occasion, Bellan sent an e-mail to Premier Doer indicating that he would stand down as a candidate if the government reached a settlement with shareholders. Doer subsequently forwarded this letter to Elections Manitoba. Under Manitoba law, it is illegal to request personal benefit in return for standing down as a candidate. Elections Manitoba investigated the matter, and cleared Bellan of any wrongdoing.[11]
| Election | Division | Party | Votes | % | Place | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1981 provincial | St. Johns | Progressive | 446 | 6.35 | 4/5 | Donald Malinowski, New Democratic Party |
| 2007 provincial | Assiniboia | Liberal | 459 | 5.52 | 3/3 | Jim Rondeau, New Democratic Party |
Burke was born into a military family, and was raised in several communities throughout Canada. She has a diploma in Social Services from Mount Royal College in Calgary, and has worked in financial services for Great-West Life and the Bank of Nova Scotia. She moved to Brandon in 1992, and has owned a small business with her husband since 1996.[12]
Burke was elected to the Brandon School Board in the 1998 municipal elections, winning one of eight at-large seats in the city. She served as vice-chair of the board during her first term.[13] She was re-elected in 2002, and served as chair in the term that followed. She approved the introduction of surveillance cameras into one secondary school in 2004.[14] She was narrowly defeated in her bid for a third term in 2006.
| Election | Division | Party | Votes | % | Place | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1998 municipal | Brandon School Division, urban trustee | n/a | 4,065 | 7.94 | 6/13 | Marty Snelling, Malcolm Jolly, Linda L. Ross, Jim Murray, Donna Young, herself, Lynne McCaughey, Mark Rukin |
| 2002 municipal | Brandon School Division, urban trustee | n/a | not listed | not listed | not listed | Malcolm Jolly, herself, Jim Murray, Linda L. Ross, Marty Snelling, Donna Young, Patricia Bowslaugh, Howard Hoy |
| 2006 municipal | Brandon School Division, urban trustee | n/a | 4,127 | 5.92 | 9/20 | Brian Mayes, Jim Murray, Marty Snelling, Peter Bartlette, Bea Jolly, Linda L. Ross, Ramona Coey, George Buri |
| 2007 provincial | Brandon East | Liberal | 554 | 7.95 | 3/3 | Drew Caldwell, New Democratic Party |
Willard was raised in Lebanon, Missouri, America. Her biography indicates that she received a Bachelor's Degree in Wildlife Conservation from the University of Missouri in 1970, and then received a Master's Degree in Education in Virginia. She was accepted to the Tuskegee Institute in Alabama in 1978, where she completed a Bachelor's Degree in Agriculture, defended a Master's thesis in Physiology and Pharmacology, and earned a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree. After receiving her degree, she became an Emergency Veterinarian in Winnipeg. She subsequently started her own veterinary practice in 1986.
Willard applied and was accepted to the University of Manitoba, where she attended Medical School, completing her Medical Degree in 1997. She sold her veterinary practice in 2001. She completed a five year residency in Pathology in 2002, and moved to Brandon.[15] She is known as an expert on turtles, and has argued against selling them as pets.[16] She was hired as a pathologist for the Sunrise Health Region in Saskatchewan in early 2007.[17]
She received 398 votes (4.04%) in 2007, finishing third against Progressive Conservative candidate Rick Borotsik.
She ran in the 2008 Canadian general election as a candidate in Brandon Souris for the Liberal Party of Canada. She received 2,836 votes, or 4th place overall.
Hohne was a machinist with EPT Manufacturing at the time of the election, and had previously worked as an entrepreneur, manager and salesperson. He is active with the Cubs and Scouts, and has held leading volunteer positions with these organizations.[18] He received 562 votes (10.49%), finishing third against New Democratic Party incumbent Doug Martindale.
Worthington was born in Winnipeg, and works as a legal secretary.[19] In 2004, she drew attention to the situation of her father's death in a Winnipeg hospital after receiving unsatisfactory medical treatment.[20] (Her father, a World War II veteran, was given only one bath during his three months in hospital and suffered several infections due to a lack of cleanliness.[21] The Winnipeg Regional Health Authority later criticized his doctor's actions, although the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Manitoba determined that the doctor had acted appropriately.) Worthington subsequently emerged as a prominent advocate for patient safety, and said that doctors should be monitored by independent observers.[22][23]
In the 2007 election, Worthington stood beside party leader Jon Gerrard as he called for a province-wide project to study and fix medical mistakes.[24] She received 336 votes (6.01%) on election day, finishing third against New Democratic Party Premier Gary Doer.
Shortly after the election, Worthington was told that the Winnipeg Regional Health Authority had never conducted a promised audit into her father's death.[25] The Winnipeg Free Press newspaper described her as "justified in her outrage".[26]
Love worked as a police officer for thirteen years, serving with the East Kildonan Police Department and walking a beat. He has also been an addications counsellor, and since 2001 has been a marriage commissioner.[27] He argued against the Payday loan industry before the Manitoba Standing Committee on Social and Economic Development in 2006.[28] He received 1,101 votes (17.48%), finishing third against New Democratic Party incumbent Jim Maloway.
Olivier-Job was born in Trinidad and Tobago. She worked as a telephone operator at Manitoba Telecom Systems for a number of years, before retiring in 2003.[29] She started Olivier-Job Personal and Professional Consulting Services in 1996, assisting businesses with issues of cultural and racial sensitivity.[30] Olivier-Job was also a member of the Inkster-Garden Grove advisory committee in the 1990s, and sought to expand community youth facilities in the neighbourhood.[31] At the time of the 2007 election, she was completing an Education degree from the University of Winnipeg.[32]
She ran for a position on the Winnipeg School Board in 1992, and sought election to the provincial legislature in 2003 and 2007. She has said that she chose to run for provincial office due to her opposition to the education policies pursued by Gary Doer's government.[33] She has also served on the National Women’s Liberal Commission.[34]
| Election | Division | Party | Votes | % | Place | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1992 Winnipeg municipal | Winnipeg School Board, Ward Three | n/a | 3,041 | 6.16 | 9/11 | Edward Kowalchuk, Roman Yereniuk and Bill Sanderson |
| 2003 provincial | The Maples | Liberal | 885 | 15.94 | 2/3 | Cris Aglugub, New Democratic Party |
| 2007 provincial | Fort Whyte | Liberal | 1,637 | 14.22 | 3/3 | Hugh McFadyen, Progressive Conservative |
Christopher Baker was a late entry to the Minnedosa campaign.[35] He received 268 votes (3.73%), finishing fourth against Progressive Conservative incumbent Leanne Rowat.
Bourgeois is an Aboriginal Canadian. She was a respite worker in adolescent care with Winnipeg's Child and Family Services East Emergency Foster Home from 1994 to 1997, and became an apartment counsellor with Stradbrook Residential Services in 1996. She has an extensive history of volunteer work, including work with the intellectually challenged and people with mental illness.[36] Bourgeois campaigned for the Manitoba Liberal Party in the 2003 and 2007 provincial election.
| Election | Division | Party | Votes | % | Place | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2003 provincial | Point Douglas | Liberal | 547 | 14.23 | 2/4 | George Hickes, New Democratic Party |
| 2007 provincial | Point Douglas | Liberal | 591 | 14.72 | 2/5 | George Hickes, New Democratic Party |
Cliff was born in Toronto, and was 44 years old in 2006. He worked as a building product specialist, and served on the provincial Liberal Party's policy committee.[37] He has campaigned for the provincial legislature on two occasions, in 2003 and 2007. On the latter occasion, he said that his most important issue was providing a future in Manitoba for young people.[38]
Cliff has also campaigned for a seat on the Winnipeg City Council on two occasions. He called for property tax cuts in his first campaign, and argued that the city needed to fix its basic infrastructure before considering a rapid transit program.[39] When he ran again in 2006, he announced that he would not ask to be reimbursed for any election expenses, and challenged his opponents to make the same commitment.[40] He endorsed Mayor Sam Katz's bid for re-election during this campaign.[41]
| Election | Division | Party | Votes | % | Place | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2003 provincial | Radisson | Liberal | 624 | 8.42 | 3/3 | Bidhu Jha, New Democratic Party |
| municipal by-election, 22 June 2004 | Winnipeg City Council, St. Boniface Ward | n/a | 1,040 | 5.22 | 6/7 | Franco Magnifico |
| 2006 municipal | Winnipeg City Council, St. Boniface Ward | n/a | 485 | 2.81 | 3/3 | Dan Vandal |
| 2007 provincial | Radisson | Liberal | 677 | 7.99 | 3/3 | Bidhu Jha, New Democratic Party |
Oyeleru moved from Nigeria to Winnipeg in 1987. He is a college graduate, and owns a women's clothing store in the city.[42] Oyeleru is a Christian and holds conservative views on social issues, although his views on matters such as poverty and children's programs are more liberal.
He first ran for public office in the 2006 Winnipeg municipal election. His primary issue was the revitalization of the city's community centres, though he also called for the elimination of the city's business tax and for a reduction in children's bus fares.[43] He finished fourth against incumbent councillor Lillian Thomas.
| Election | Division | Party | Votes | % | Place | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006 municipal | Winnipeg City Council, Elmwood-East Kildonan Ward | n/a | 390 | 4.55 | 4/4 | Lillian Thomas |
| 2007 provincial | Rossmere | Liberal | 522 | 6.55 | 3/3 | Erna Braun, New Democratic Party |
Basarab is a machinist for CN Rail, and has represented the Canadian Auto Workers on the Winnipeg Labour Council.[44] He is a frequent candidate for public office. He described himself as a political independent in 2006, though he indicated that the provincial Liberals had tried to draft him as a candidate. He also indicated his personal support for Mayor Sam Katz's re-election bid.[45]
In the 2006 municipal election, Basarab highlighted his opposition a proposed OlyWest pork processing plant near the Transcona ward by giving out novelty "gummy pig" candies to residents.[46]
| Election | Division | Party | Votes | % | Place | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1992 municipal | Transcona-Springfield School Division, Ward One | n/a | 1,728 | 11.14 | 5/8 | Mary Andree, Betty Ann Watts, Colleen Carswell |
| 1995 municipal | Winnipeg City Council, Transcona Ward | n/a | 967 | 5.95 | 4/5 | Shirley Timm-Rudolph |
| 1995 municipal | Transcona-Springfield School Division, Ward One | n/a | 2,184 | 13.94 | 4/8 | Colleen Carswell, Mary Andree, Betty Ann Watts |
| 1998 municipal | Transcona-Springfield School Division, Ward One | n/a | 2,105 | 13.99 | 4/6 | Colleen Carswell, Mary Andree, David George |
| 2006 municipal | Winnipeg City Council, Transcona Ward | n/a | 785 | 8.49 | 2/3 | Russ Wyatt |
| 2007 provincial | Transcona | Liberal | 604 | 9.10 | 3/3 | Daryl Reid, New Democratic Party |
Regan Wolfrom is a community activist and small business owner.[47] In 2006, he led a residents' group called the Concerned Elmwood Neighbours that tried to prevent the closure of the Kelvin Community Club.[48] He received 877 votes (20.28%), finishing third against New Democratic Party candidate Bill Blaikie.