Where is Faber’s Slate?

Patrick Faber

While a few area representatives and standard bearers have come forward in support of John Saldivar’s candidacy for Deputy Party Leader, Faber has remained fairly quiet about his support base.  Saldivar, who has put together his own roster of candidates for the various posts, is also being endorsed openly by them.  So where does Faber stand and why is he running alone?

Patrick Faber, Deputy Party Leader, U.D.P.

“I am choosing not to have a slate, so there can be nobody coming out in my favor because I simply have decided not to entertain a slate and that is for a number of reasons, but primarily because I am in the race for leadership.  I think that in the capacity of a leader, if I am elected as a leader of this party that there will be a lot of fence mending, a lot of mending of the fences would need to happen.  A lot of bringing together of the divided factions and that has got to be done by a leader who can do that, and if I am not aligned, I don’t have a candidate at the various different offerings, that puts me in a better position to do so.  Also, I now have to speak to delegates from all of my colleagues, even those who are from constituencies where their leaders are offering themselves and my put themselves up on Minister Saldivar’s slate.  So I want to leave all of my options open.  I am running for one position and I also view at this time given who I know have applied, that all the candidates are of good caliber and so whoever wins for first deputy, whoever wins for second… As far as I know, we only have one application for chairman, whoever wins for vice chairman, I am prepared to work for them, work to them, work with them so that we can move things forward.”