“I was really inspired by the support that came through.”
So said Loren Mick, the NDP candidate who received 8,006 votes from Nipissing voters in last week's election. A first-time candidate for provincial politics – Loren currently sits as a councillor in Mattawa – Mick took to the campaign trail like a seasoned pro, participating in many events, debates, and knocking on plenty of doors throughout the riding.
See: Local candidates square off at Nipissing Theatre
A day after the polls closed, Mick told BayToday, “Seeing this group of people come together for this common goal is really inspiring, there’s a re-energized spark to keep moving forward.”
Mick noted that election night he and his team were kept busy right until polls closed, making calls to party faithful, mobilizing the voters to cast their ballots. He said, “I think we did a really good job at getting the vote out, we had everyone on the calls.”
As for growing support for the party in the region, Mick noted “We treated it like a marathon, not a sprint.”
Further, he added, “The NDP supporters are not going anywhere, and they’re going to keep coming out to the polls. I’m really happy to see that.”
Overall, the experience left Mick inspired, and he’s eager to continue engaging for change. Mick also emphasized his gratitude for everyone who supported him.
He said, “I’m just really taken aback by the people coming together and helping out. We’ve got this momentum going, and we’re going to harness that energy. We formed around this common goal, and it’s so refreshing to see folks come together and support the cause.”
David Briggs is a Local Journalism Initiative reporter who works out of BayToday, a publication of Village Media. The Local Journalism Initiative is funded by the Government of Canada.