Local activist Sarah Jama seeks NDP nomination for Hamilton Centre riding

With Andrea Horwath stepping down as the MPP for Hamilton Centre riding there will be a by-election in the next six months.

Local activist Sarah Jama has announced her intention to seek the NDP nomination for Hamilton Centre. Horwath has held the riding since 2007.

Jama has been vocal against Hamilton police and the city’s handling of homeless encampments. She was arrested in November in J.C. Beemer park protesting the encampment evictions.

Longtime Ward 2 councillor Jason Farr didn’t name names but says the riding doesn’t need someone calling for fewer officers on the street. Farr won’t be running provincially again after losing in June but didn’t rule out running for council again.

As for the provincial by-election, another long-time local politician Paul Miller says it shouldn’t be happening in the first place. “I think the by-election is unnecessary, I believe Andrea should have finished her mandate, it’s not fair to the taxpayers to do a by-election to nominate a new person in her stead,” Miller said.

Miller also won’t be running again but says the historically NDP riding is “ripe for the picking.”