Photo by Vince Fedoroff
READY FOR THE CHALLENGE – Tamara Goeppel has some fun late this morning at the SS Klondike, where she announced she wants to sit in the legislature as a Yukon Liberal Party MLA.
Liberals gain a potential candidate
Whitehorse resident Tamara Goeppel is seeking a nomination for next year’s territorial election, under the Yukon Liberal Party banner.
Whitehorse resident Tamara Goeppel is seeking a nomination for next year’s territorial election, under the Yukon Liberal Party banner.
Goeppel was joined late this morning by Liberal Leader Sandy Silver at the SS Klondike to publicly announce her intent to run as a candidate.
“This is worth fighting for,” Goeppel said, gesturing to the picturesque Yukon River.
Earlier this summer, former city councillor John Streicker and former Yukon Party candidate Rod Taylor put their names forward for the Yukon Liberals.
Goeppel ran against Yukon MP Larry Bagnell for the federal Liberal nomination in the fall of 2014.
After she lost the nomination to Bagnell, Silver said, he “head-hunted” Goeppel and urged her to get involved territorially.
“Over the last few years, I feel our community has been torn apart by a Yukon Party government that is disrespectful of First Nations,” Goeppel said this morning.
“If we continue down this path, we will have yet another rift in our community that will take a generation or two to heal, and I want to stop that.”
She is an avid supporter of the private sector, with her personal background in tourism, mining, retail and health care.
Goeppel has continually criticized the government’s continuing care facility project to be built in Whistle Bend.
Today, she said, it played a large role in her decision to run for a Liberal nomination.
She said ATIPP information she obtained this past summer made it clear that the location of the facility was a political decision, and the needs of the people were ignored.
“That’s not the government that I want to support,” she said.
Silver, the party’s sole MLA, said the Liberals will determine the candidates and their respective ridings for the election after an open nomination at January’s annual general meeting.
“We’ve had a tremendous amount of interest; of course, the federal election helped out a lot as well,” Silver said.
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Comments (12)
Up 27 Down 25
Expose Political Chameleons on Dec 2, 2015 at 1:14 pm
Streiker is a political chameleon opportunist. When it was trendy to be Green, he was Green, and now that's trendy to be Red, he professes to be Red. If Orange was popular, he'd wave that flag too. He'll say whatever gets the most votes, but only represent his own views.
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Quit bashing John--RedGreen is a great combination on Dec 1, 2015 at 5:15 pm
J.Jackson, quit bashing John Streiker. Get over your Sima issue. People use it, it has created tourism, a boost in the economy and showcasing of the Yukon this year and even though I don't use it I support those who do. For once I kind of agree with the Yukon party for supporting something good at Sima and getting all of the attention on our great winter skiing conditions which will enable us to have tourism in October year after year.
As for John leaving the Green Party, why would anybody stay with a party that will never be in contention in the Yukon? Or Federally? That's not to say that I'm against the Greens...but when you got RedGreen you've got economics, mixed with open views, and his green ideology is still there but he can do way more for this community in a party that's leading it. And trust me, Liberals will be running our territory after the next election. I SUPPORT JOHN STREIKER. And Tamara and Sandy Silver...suspicious of Rod Taylor though. Keep those YP types out. All they want to do is look after the boys, not include First Nations and make fairy land budgets/projects come from la-la land.
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June Jackson on Dec 1, 2015 at 12:24 pm
Not enough money in the world to make me vote for John Streiker. In the first place..for the implied power of a politician he abandoned the Green Party and turned Liberal. I don't like politicians that do that.. stand for something or fall for anything.. too wishy washy for me.. Also, instead of focusing on the taxpayers, who opposed putting more money into SIMA he opted to vote for throwing more money at SIMA and was in favor of core funding. I don't think Striker will represent the community or the Yukon. My impression of Tamara is that she can look at the bigger picture..one that Striker apparently can not see.
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ProScience Greenie on Nov 29, 2015 at 2:13 pm
Good on Goeppel to be stepping up. Same with any other reasonable and intelligent newcomers that are thinking of running this election under any political banner or even as independents.
I hope all the candidates from the three main Yukon political parties realize that their job is to represent Yukoners not their respective party in Ottawa like we've seen too often from past Yukon governments left, right and centre.
Speaking of good old boys, that's too simplistic. In reality, each of the three main parties have an 'old boys and girls club' (with some overlap). Historically changing governments hasn't stopped the graft, undue influence and brown paper bags full of tax dollar going to the various individuals, businesses, NGOs and non-profits that make up these clubs. This election we must put the pressure on all three parties to once and for all bring some transparency and accountability to government.
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Groucho d'North on Nov 28, 2015 at 4:16 pm
I am keen to see who steps forward for all parties in the coming election, however more than the players, I am more interested in the platforms the parties will create to explain the values they will use and the targets they will aim for. And not the nebulous generic statements about the economy, the environment and better this and that. But HOW they will do these things. It should be easy given the faults they are finding with the incumbents. How would they go about the land plan for the Peel and other regions? How will they address homelessness? Some budget numbers to go with these solutions would also be nice to see. Sandy being the hard numbers guy he portrays in the Legislature, I expect nothing less. I don't now what to expect from the Deepers, all they do is bitch and complain, but never suggest how they would do it different or why their way would be better.
All elections are about change, but from what to what? We know the status quo and electing a new party would be different, and it would herald change, but would it be better? Having all parties provide some tangible solution proposals in the coming campaign will be helpful. I also hope the media will dig into these issues and provide more than the typical party platitudes about how and why their way is better. Put up or shut up.
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BnR on Nov 28, 2015 at 10:11 am
The Yukon Party had a real chance during their last leadership election to get new blood in into it, get rid of the good old boys and prove that they really were a Yukon party. That's when Rod Taylor ran and was defeated by the pharmacist. I had been a card carrying Yukon party remember! But have not renewed. Seeing a REAL Yukon business person such as Tamara run for the Libs as well as Rod (who is another real businessman) is great news. The Yukon Party has indeed forgotten their roots of supporting Yukoners.
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It's not the color; it's what's inside that counts (Lost in Yukon) on Nov 27, 2015 at 4:54 pm
Colour isn't everything--Tamara is smart, savvy and a lifelong Yukon. She will be a great asset to the new government. And unlike any other female blond politicians we know, Tamara will get things done. Make no mistake, the liberals are our next party.
Up 14 Down 32
Liberal only have on Nov 27, 2015 at 1:36 pm
Liberal only have four candidates so far. Liberals don't have any for the rural areas at all except Dawson, which is questionable. City of Whitehorse people want change from the NDP so some of their elected officials are going to be done and they don't have any creditable candidates and will recycle old candidates.
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Lost in the Yukon on Nov 27, 2015 at 11:54 am
... are we sure it is the Liberals she wants to run for? That coat is real close to NDP orange?
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jc on Nov 26, 2015 at 5:23 pm
It's always the FN isn't it. After more than 150 years so-called rifts are still not fixed. It appears that there is something else that is not coming to light with this whole issue. Maybe both sides are too ashamed, embarrassed or afraid to bring it to light, which means the problems will continue for another 150 years. Enough with the empty promises and just do it.
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alright TG! on Nov 26, 2015 at 4:38 pm
Alright Tamara! Now we're talking! John Streiker, Sandy Silver, Tamara Goppel....this upcoming election is looking stronger and stronger.
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Stu Whatman on Nov 26, 2015 at 4:12 pm
Wow, the Liberal Party has some excellent candidates; they will do well.