Former TV Reporter/Candidate Experiences Life on The Other Side
Posted October 10, 2006 12:00 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
For years, Adam Vaughan served as CityNews‘ Political Specialist, a man who took great delight in tormenting those in public office by exposing their foibles and contradictions.
But now Vaughan is on the other side of the camera, seeking a seat in the volatile Trinity-Spadina riding. And those old questions he spent years asking others are now the very queries he’s being forced to answer.
“You sit in an all-candidates meeting and one of your opponents says something and as a reporter you go ‘that’s not true.’ But as a candidate you sort of have to bite your tongue a bit sometimes.”
Vaughan is running for a seat in Olivia Chow’s old riding. But because the incumbent left for Ottawa and the N.D.P., Ward 20 is now an open book, with eight untested candidates vying for the prize.
And Vaughan claims he hasn’t run into anything that’s surprised him so far.
“I don’t think there are many issues I didn’t cover as a journalist and so there’s not a lot of surprises on the campaign trail,” he opines.
Helen Kennedy is Chow’s old assistant and many perceive her as the heir apparent to her old boss. She’s not worried about her opponent’s perceived recognition factor. “For decades we’ve been providing the service,” she points out. “Adam has been looking over the fence basically as an outsider looking in.”
The riding seems centered on the big three Ts: trash, transit and the terminal at the Island Airport. All are in agreement they need major changes, but all have a different approach to get there.
Have the people they’re all looking to impress even noticed?
“Not really,” notes one voter.
“No,” admits another.
Those looking for your approval are running out of time – the election is now just over a month away.
