Earlier, we reported on Elyn Dobbs, Greg Elzinga and Jeff Melland's email pitch encouraging Non-Partisan Association members to support a package of bylaw amendments that they say will "improve democracy, accountability and transparency" within the civic party. The trio, who are running for seats on the association's board of directors, explains those improvements are needed "because for too long it has been characterized by infighting and petty personal politics." But it seems association director Alex Tsakumis has taken umbrage with their claims. In a message sent to his board colleagues, Mr. Tsakumis writes that they "will find the basis for the Mark Marissen induced push that we are currently witnessing" to take over the Non-Partisan Association in Ms. Dobbs and Messrs. Elzinga and Melland's email.
According to Mr. Tsakumis, Mr. Marissen's "ego can't handle how they blew it against Sam (Sullivan), so here they are with an effort the lay the groundwork to take over this Board by 2007. All to save a spot for Christy (Clark) in 2008." Mr. Marissen recently co-chaired the federal Liberal election campaign in British Columbia. His wife, Ms. Clark, lost her bid for the Non-Partisan Association's mayoral nomination to Mr. Sullivan. The following is an edited copy of Mr. Tsakumis's email.
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-----Original Message-----
From: A.G. (Alex) Tsakumis
Sent: April 11, 2006 10:27 AM
To: Matthew Taylor; Jason Murray; Heather Chutter; Cameron St. John; A. G. (Alex) Tsakumis; Andrew Graham; Colin Metcalfe; Dale McClanaghan; David Choi; Douglas Leung; Joost Bakker; Michelle Custodio; Mr. Paul S. O. Barbeau; Peter Hyndman; Ydevl; 'Marko Dekovic'
Subject: Re: bylaw amendment
If any of you are interested in seeing real name calling and petty personal attacks, ask Cameron for a copy of the email sent out to our members (how did they get the list???) From Greg Elzinga, Elyn Dobbs and Jeff Melland. In it you will find the basis for the Mark Marissen induced push that we are currently witnessing.
Recently, Mr. Marissen, a very close personal friend of our Mr. St. John, forcefully took over the Vancouver Kingsway Liberal Riding Association with the same tactics exhibited by Elzinga, Melland and Dobbs. The threw out perfectly good Directors in favour of partisans who will do only their bidding and did it all the while...pretending that it was for the greater good. Of course Marissen's wife, Christy Clark lives in that riding, so they couln't pass the opportunity to save a spot for her just in case.
Same story here. Mr. Marissen's ego can't handle how they blew it against Sam, so here they are with an effort the lay the groundwork to take over this Board by 2007. All to save a spot for Christy in 2008.
They destroyed the federal Liberal party and now they want to destroy the NPA.
Should we let them?
A.G. (Alex) Tsakumis
I think Mark Marissen must be Superman. Here's a person who runs a business, runs a national campaign for Liberal leader and in his spare time, overthrows municipal boards for sport. Must be quite a guy.
" ... They destroyed the federal Liberal party ..."
Gotta admit, Alex is dead right on at least one point.
No, he is no superman. Remember, his "business" IS running the Liberal Party. His "business" depends solely on his access to Liberal MPs. Since the Liberals are not in power anymore, I would imagine "business" is not as good as before....maybe he needs a new source of revenue...hence the NPA.
I agree. Mark's crew hurt us as Liberals really bad. It's about time someone had the guts to stand up to him. Too bad for us Tsakumis is a Conservative.
Perfectly good Directors in Vancovuer-Kingsway? First of all Tsakumis (you ass) you're a federal Conservative. How the hell would you know? Oh, I forgot, David Emerson betrayed his constituents and crossed the floor to join your party.
Maybe, just maybe, Liberals in Vancouver-Kingsway didn't want a bunch of Emerson lickspittles - many of whom didn't even live in the riding - on their board. Maybe they replaced them with people who actually live there and want to help elect a real Liberal as an MP.
And wasn't Marissen the guy who was responsible for installing Emerson as the candidate in Vancouver-Kingsway instead of Wendy Yuan. Aren't most of the new people on the Vancouver-Kingsway board seen as Wendy Yuan supporters?
Does Tsakumis's email make any sense? Not to anyone who knows the federal Liberal party. Believe me, I would be THRILLED if the federal Liberal party took over the NPA, but these three folks running for Director positions certainly does not signal that.
Tsakumis' email makes perfect sense except to those who are Mark Marissen ass kissers. I cannot believe the attacks against this guy Tsakumis. If he's wrong then why worry? Political platforms regardless of where they come from are built everyday. Get over it. Tsakumis got to you guys and you're sore losers about it.
This email makes Alex sound crazy.