1980 Nova Scotia New Democratic Party leadership election

1980 Nova Scotia New Democratic Party leadership election Nova Scotia presidential no 1968 1996 1996 November 16, 1980 Riding Final ballot Alexa McDonough cropped.jpg f4a460 Alexa McDonough None 237(74.06%) f4a460 Len J. Arsenault Cape Breton North 42(13.13%) f4a460 Buddy MacEachern Cape Breton Centre 41(12.81%) Leader Buddy MacEachern (interim) Jeremy Akerman Alexa McDonough Nova Scotia New Democratic Party NB NDP 1980 November 16, 1980 Alexa McDonough Jeremy Akerman 3 1 The 1980 Nova Scotia New Democratic Party leadership election was held on November 16, 1980, to elect a successor to Jeremy Akerman as leader of the Nova Scotia New Democratic Party. The election was necessary because Akerman had announced had resigned that year to accept a senior position in the civil service. Alexa McDonough was elected, defeating Len J. Arsenault and Buddy MacEachern. Background At the time of Akerman's resignation, the party was undergoing significant regional and ideological tensions. The party had never yet won any seats outside of Cape Breton Island, with all four of the party's MLAs representing various constituencies on the island. These Cape Breton New Democrats increasingly began to come into conflict with the more leftist elements of the party, largely based in Halifax.Canadian Press, "Void facing N.S. New Democrats...", Globe and Mail, May 19, 1980Caustic Cape Bretoner a pariah in NDP Barbara Yaffe The Globe and Mail 1980-06-06 11 https://www.proquest.com/docview/1125080421 1125080421 subscription Tensions reached a peak when MLA Paul MacEwan was expelled from the party for publicizing internal party affairs and accusing other party members of being Trotskyites.Nova Scotia MLA threatens to establish alternate NDP Yaffe Barbara The Globe and Mail 1980-06-30 8 https://www.proquest.com/docview/1125088689 1125088689 subscription These conflicts, and the decision about whether MacEwen would be readmitted to the party, were significant issues in the leadership election. Candidates Len J. Arsenault Len J. Arsenault was the MLA for Cape Breton North. He was first elected in the 1978 provincial election. Before entering politics, he was a teacher. Buddy MacEachern Buddy MacEachern was the MLA for Cape Breton Centre. He was first elected in the 1974 provincial election. Following Akerman's resignation, he was also serving as interim party leader. Before entering politics, he was a teacher.Jala David https://www.saltwire.com/cape-breton/new-waterford-loses-two-former-cape-breton-mlas-219265 New Waterford loses two former Cape Breton MLAs Cape Breton Post 2018-06-17 2025-04-02 Alexa McDonough Alexa McDonough was the NDP candidate for Halifax in the 1979 and 1980 federal elections. Before entering politics, she was a social worker.N.S. NDP leader faces lonely road Michael Harris The Globe and Mail Toronto 1981-10-20 10 https://www.proquest.com/docview/1143140911 1143140911 subscription Ballot results +First BallotCandidateVotesPercentageAlexa McDonough23774.06Len J. Arsenault4213.13Buddy MacEachern4112.81Total320100.00 References 30em Nova Scotia New Democratic Party leadership election New Democratic Party leadership election Nova Scotia New Democratic Party leadership election Nova Scotia New Democratic Party leadership election