Carole James
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 plumeted in provincial polls and was dealt a massive electoral defeat in the 2001 provincial election, electing only two members of parlimanent. 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 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.
She is currently running to unseat Liberal Premier Gordon Campbell in the 2005 provincial election. Her campaign thusfar has largely focused on two themes; introducing herself to voters and distancing herself from the former NDP governments of the past.
James is a Métis and a divorced mother of two.
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Categories: Canadian politician stubs | British Columbia politicians | Métis people | 1958 births