Zann’s coronation, er nomination, last night as NDP candidate for Truro-Bible Hill in the next provincial election is her first small step towards a possible second term in office.
Not that there was any doubt this would be a one-term candidate. Someone who dipped her toes in the political waters just long enough to discover there were less stressful ways to make a living.
Zann, despite her friendly personality, is made of sterner stuff than that. No surprise considering her background in the ultra competitive and occasionally cutthroat world of acting.
With three-and-a-half years of political experience now under her belt, she appears to be gaining confidence in her role, too, and no doubt would like to see a few local projects through – among them an affordable housing strategy project for the east end, a new library home and a reinvention of Normal College – before hanging up her political hat.
There is, of course, an election to be won. Perhaps in the spring. Maybe in the fall. Possibly even in 2014.
And whenever Premier Darrell Dexter opts to face a cranky electorate (is there any other kind?), don’t be surprised if his majority government is reduced, maybe all the way to a minority.
But Zann’s seat is one that will be tough to dislodge.
This is, after all, a candidate who garnered 4,147 votes in the 2009 election, almost as many of the Progressive Conservatives and Liberals combined.
It was an impressive NDP breakthrough in a riding that has historically voted PC.
Zann, 53, no doubt benefitted from the desire for change that swept the province, but she hasn’t been idle in the interval – particularly during the government’s quick action after major flooding struck the region in September.
She is not infallible, however. No politician is and those in power always have a big target on their backs.
This means opposition candidates Charles Cox (PC) and Barry Mellish (Liberal) will be doing their best to find chinks in Zann’s armour.
They’ll need to find something because at this point in time keeping Zann from a second term figures to be an uphill battle.
