Carole James
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Carole James (born 1958) is the current leader of the New Democratic Party of British Columbia, a social democratic political party in British Columbia (BC), Canada.
She served on the Greater Victoria school board from 1990 to 2001, with seven terms as chair, and gained a province-wide profile in her unprecedented five terms as president of the BC School Trustee's Association. She has also served at the national level as vice-president of the Canadian School Boards Association.
Following the scandal-ridden premiership of Glen Clark and his subsequent resignation, the New Democratic Party plummetted in provincial polls and was dealt a massive electoral defeat in the 2001 provincial election, winning only two seats in the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia.
James was elected the new leader of the party in November 2003, in a leadership race that received little attention. Following the party's massive defeat in the election, many political observers argued the NDP required strong leadership if it hoped to regain its former politicial relevance. No former NDP politicians ran for leader however, and, after being elected, James was still a largely unknown figure to many British Columbians.
In the 2005 provincial election campaign against the Liberal Party government of Premier Gordon Campbell, the NDP campaign largely focused on two themes:
- introducing James to voters, and
- distancing James from the former NDP governments of the past.
Like Ujjal Dosanjh before her, James campaigned heavily on her own name and image, unlike Premier Campbell, who, suffering from low personal approval ratings, tried to play a less prominant role in BC Liberal campaigning. Her campaign was characterized by harsh, often emotional criticisms of Campbell's cuts to health care and education. Many analysts praised her for a strong "first time" campaign, but she was also criticized by conservatives and the media for doing little to distance herself from organized labour and other traditional NDP bases of support.
On election night James surprised many supporters and critics alike with a very strong showing, winning 33 out of 79 seats in the legislature. James won her own seat in her Victoria-Beacon Hill riding and will now serve as Leader of the Opposition when the BC parliament reconvenes.
James is a Métis and a mother of two children. She has been divorced and has re-married.
External links
- Official site of the B.C. New Democratic Party (http://www.bc.ndp.ca/)
| Preceded by: Joy MacPhail (unofficial) | Leader of the Opposition In British Columbia 2005–Present | Succeeded by: Incumbent |
| Preceded by: Joy MacPhail | Leader of the British Columbia New Democratic Party 2003–Present | Succeeded by: Incumbent |