Niagara Falls Liberals Ponder a Run Against Rob Nicholson

The Niagara Falls Review reported yesterday that three local Liberals are interested in taking on Tory MP and Minister of Justice Rob Nicholson in the next federal election. City alderman Carolynn Ioannoni, former city alderman Joyce Morocco, and Riding Association President James Curran are all soul searching.

Ioannoni would likely be the best choice. She's been on city council since 1999, and was the top vote getter among women candidates in both the 2003 and 2006 municipal elections. She has her critics, but the voters keep on sending her back to city hall with increased vote totals.

Morocco was defeated in the November 2006 municipal elections after serving her first term on council. For her to jump to federal politics after losing municipally would be a awkward step for both her and the party.

Curran is about as dedicated a Liberal as they come, but he doesn't command the kind of profile or name recognition associated with Ioannoni or Morocco.

This contest should be interesting, especially given the Liberal party's push to run more women in winnable ridings. It is not inconceivable that Stephane Dion would quash the local nomination process and simply appoint a strong woman candidate. Such a move would likely irk Curran, a Dion supporter, but then again, democracy has never been the Liberal Party's strong point.