Dylan Marando

This may be the first impression of many voters when they see Dylan Marando approach a microphone to share his political vision.

Though he is only 21, the Green Party’s Richmond Hill riding candidate for this October’s federal election isn’t letting a lack of experience hinder his pursuit to stir Richmond Hill’s political pot and sway some voters from the traditional big guns.

But how does a university student who still lives with his parents get thrown into the murky waters of federal politics, steering the Green battleship through a sea of red, blue and orange.

After the last federal election, Mr. Marando, like many young voters, didn’t necessarily have his finger on Canada’s political pulse.

“I realized I had a responsibility to know more about our political system. I researched all the parties and found the Green Party of Canada held most of my values and my vision for my community,” Mr. Marando said.

“I never considered myself an environmentalist and I never considered myself a political person, but I felt the Green Party’s general attitude how we should conduct ourselves in society very attractive and I don’t think enough people understand how simple and profound the objective of the Green Party is,” he added.

Next thing you know, the University of Toronto student was given the green light and he has thrust into the ring with heavyweight candidates more than twice his age.

Mr. Marando was 10 years old when his opponent and Liberal incumbent Bryon Wilfert was first elected MP in 1997.

And he admits, the prospect of taking on savvy veterans like Mr. Wilfert and second-time New Democratic Party candidate Wess Dowsett, can be intimidating.

“Part of me is afraid. Debating with people that have more political experience than I have is daunting,” he confessed.

“Still, part of me is very confident. The other candidates are more experienced and they may have better resources, but they don’t have a better platform, a better message or better policies. They offer good ideas, but history suggests that a lot of their policy programs are not effective,” he stated.

The Greens scored 4.6 per cent of Richmond Hill voters in the 2004 and 2006 federal elections, but nationally their support is nearly doubled and according to Mr. Marando, over the last two federal elections the Greens have had a candidate in every single riding.

Though he may be wet behind the ears in comparison, Mr. Marando does have a clear advantage over his grizzled opposing candidates in one aspect of the federal campaign.

You see, at 21, the Green candidate falls smack in the middle of that hardest to reach election demographic the all important young voter.

According to elections Canada only 43.8 per cent of all eligible voters between 18 and 25 years old, cast a ballot in the 2006 federal election.

All the experience in the world won’t enable a man is his 40s or 50s to relate with potential voters between the ages of 18 and 25 on the same level as a student in his early twenties.

And Mr. Marando believes that the same qualities which attracted him to the Greens can attract many of his politically disenfranchised peers, too.

“We are not left wing or right wing on the political spectrum. We simply believe in good ideas and we don’t sacrifice principle for power, he said.

“I plan to use simple language when I discuss these issues with people my age and emphasize the fact that youth can understand what is happening in the political world.

“It is not complicated and we are a major part of it,” Mr. Marando added.

For the next five weeks, the christianity and culture student will balance a federal campaign as well as his homework, hoping to rock the boat of Richmond Hill politics.
   Adam Mc Lean