Green Party leader has to learn how to build a team
Thursday, July 19th, 2007from the Vancouver Sun, Montreal Gazette
Green Party leader Elizabeth May tried hard this week to downplay the loss of David Chernushenko after he announced his resignation as deputy leader of the party and withdrew as a candidate in the next federal election.
Her brave words to the contrary, however, the departure is a considerable loss to the party. Chernushenko is a capable, intelligent, industrious activist who is truly devoted to the Green Party’s aims.
In all of these things he is just like May herself. But he, unlike her, has a long history with the party. That’s why his resignation will send an unwelcome signal to many rank-and-file Greens across Canada and, by extension, to those who vote Green or are considering doing so.
A Green Party member since 2001, Sterk joined the party after spending a year sailing in Mexico and observing how exporting our consumptive lifestyle to a less developed country was destroying the environment, damaging their social and family systems and creating a false economy. Sterk is an elected municipal councillor who will bring her effectiveness in government, as well as her private and public sector experience, to provide balanced and effective leadership for the Green Party of BC.