Young Liberals Endorse Longfield

I'm really not trying to turn this into the Liberal nomination blog. Seriously, I'm not. But they do seem to be the most fired up in the efforts to get a nominee for the upcoming Federal Election. To wit, I received a press release this morning from Lily Gamble, President of the Guelph Young Liberals, announcing that group's unanimous endorsement of former Guelph Chamber of Commerce President Lloyd Longfield as the successor to Frank Valeriote for Royal City Grits. There's no date yet for the nomination meeting, and Longfield does have competition for the nom in the form of author, life coach and federal scientist Wendy Powell, but one would be remiss to not point out that Longfield is the presumptive frontrunner. 

Here's the press release from Guelph Young Liberals:

(Guelph, ON) The University of Guelph Young Liberal executive has unanimously endorsed Lloyd Longfield’s campaign to be nominated Guelph’s Liberal candidate in the 2015 federal election. Anyone over the age of 14 can register as a party member to vote at the nomination meeting, which will be scheduled in the coming weeks.

“Lloyd has worked tirelessly on behalf of young people to find solutions for youth unemployment,” said President Lily Gamble. “He is a proven advocate for students and I’m excited to support his campaign.”

“His track record in the community speaks for itself - Lloyd will be an outstanding Liberal candidate and Member of Parliament”, added Immediate Past President Frank Tersigni.

Donovan Capes, Vice President and MSc candidate in Hydrogeology, said that Longfield’s green credentials earned his endorsement: “Lloyd’s local environmental leadership shows he will be a strong voice for sustainability in Ottawa.”

Federal Affairs Director Michael Noehammer has already registered many students to vote for Lloyd at the nomination meeting. “They know that Lloyd’s history of involvement on campus makes him the best candidate to succeed our retiring MP Frank Valeriote on Team Trudeau”, he said.

Communications Director Toni Lefebvre-Mick stressed that students should make their voice heard at the nomination meeting: "This campaign is an opportunity for young people to get involved in grassroots politics and select the best person to represent us."

Provincial Affairs Director Musa Mansuar agreed, noting that with the Ontario Liberals recent majority win and the federal party’s steady rise under Trudeau, “Young progressives are excited to select a candidate that will defeat Harper’s Conservative in Guelph. There is no doubt that Lloyd is that candidate.”

The group pledged to kick-off their voter registration drive as students return to the University of Guelph campus this week.