By Michelle Collins
With high hopes of seeing green in Parliament, David Chernushenko is running for the party’s national leadership. “I think a different set of skills are needed now to take us to that next level of electing our first members,” says Chernushenko, currently the party’s deputy leader.
Even with the encouragement of some party members and voters, the 42-year-old father of two said he initially hesitated because of the time and energy commitment. But he says he and his wife are up to the challenge.
“I am someone with quite a clear message of direction of where I think this country should go, indeed, must go,” he says.
Though he only joined the Green Party, and politics for that matter, in the fall of 2003, Chernushenko says his experience speaks for itself. “I’m someone who walks my talk.”
He ran in the past two elections in Ottawa Centre. Even though he came fourth, he was the leading vote-getter nationally for the Green Party. The party is now Canada’s fourth largest national party. It garnered 700,000 votes in this year’s general election.
According to the party’s constitution, an election for the leadership must be held every two years, regardless of whether the current leader wishes to continue or not.
Chernushenko says to get more votes in the next election it’s important for the party to be flexible and show voters that they are more than just an environmental party.
“Our transition has gone from environment and social justice issues to having a platform with relevance,” he says. “But it is lacking in depth.”
Chernushenko says he will work with experts and policy-makers to show people the party is capable of detailed research.
The most critical thing to attract voters will be to make their story heard, says Chernushenko. “We have a great story to tell and a great platform. Not enough people are hearing it.”
Even so, Chernushenko says he’s excited for the party’s future. “I think the Green Party has a huge opportunity, we’re on the cusp now… to being a serious challenge to all the other parties.”
Chernushenko plans to visit as many ridings across the country as he can before the leadership contest in August.
He says that in the few days since he announced his candidacy, neighbours have already come by to offer donations for his campaign. “The response has been overwhelming.”
The election of the leader is a one-member-one-vote process.