(Today’s Northumberland file photo)
By Cecilia Nasmith/Today’s Northumberland
As returns drifted in, there were times of real optimism at Dalewood Golf Club, where John Goheen supporters gathered on election night.
But counting continued into the next day. And by afternoon, as Goheen and supporters worked to clear out their campaign headquarters on Division Street in Cobourg, there were only two polls left to count – and the Liberal candidate stood at just under 45% compared to incumbent Philip Lawrence’s 49%.
Despite such strong numbers, Goheen is not yet willing to commit to another run,
“It’s probably a little too early to make any kind of decision,” he said.
“I need to take some time to reflect and think about what else I could have done.
“We had the most amazing team, and they were inspirational every single day. Now I just need to look back and see what more I could have done.”
Sitting at a desk in a near-empty office, he said that, for him, the election was “the culmination of 20 months” and his candidacy was a natural outgrowth of his work as an educator.
“I have supported communities, being a school principal, one community at a time. That’s the professional side of it, and I saw this as an opportunity to support all the communities in Northumberland-Clarke (riding) at the same time.”
And there was a personal side to the decision as well – his three young boys.
“I want them to grow up in the same Canada I grew up in,” Goheen stated.
“We don’t leave anyone behind, We support people, so people can support others. That’s the Canada I wanted for them, where there’s room for everybody. And by extension, I wanted that for everybody else.”
Asked if he had a message for the incumbent, he said, “I hope Mr. Lawrence will work hard every single day to do everything he can for Northumberland-Clarke and to advocate for funding for this community and just to make the place better for every single constituent who lives here, regardless of who they voted for,”
Watching the volunteers cart out the office fixtures, Goheen said some thanks were in order,
“I would like the thank my campaign team, I would like to thank my volunteers, I would like to thank my volunteers. I would like to thank my family,” he listed,
“Their support has been incredible, and I wouldn’t have been able to do any of this without them.”
He characterized the immediate future as a time to spend with family and to get back to work as principal of Hillcrest Public School in Campbellford.
“I will to back to my school and re-engage with my community – I look forward to that.
“I hope it’s not ‘goodbye,’ but ‘see you soon.'”
