Gloria Kovach
Encyclopedia
Gloria Kovach is a Canadian
politician
. She has been a city council
lor in Guelph
, Ontario
since 1991, and is a former president of the Federation of Canadian Municipalities
.
On July 15, 2010 Kovach filed her nomination papers for the October 25, 2010 municipal election in Guelph, and successfully ran for re-election as a councillor representing Ward 4.
for the Guelph federal electoral district
. The Conservative nomination meeting, held on March 20, 2007, at the River Run Centre in Guelph found Kovach on the losing end of the vote that saw Brent Barr, a local businessman, garner the nomination of the party.
Immediately following her unsuccessful bid for the nomination, she was removed from her position as president of the Federation of Canadian Municipalities
. The federation issued a statement indicating that her removal had nothing to do with her performance as president of the federation, but provided no reason for her removal. Kovach speculated that she was removed due to her affiliation with the Conservative Party.
In December 2007, Kovach was named the new candidate for the Conservative Party after controversy erupted when former candidate Brent Barr was removed. The local press wrote that there was "considerable speculation on the possible role Kovach may have played in Barr's ouster and whether she will vie for the position again." The Conservative Party subsequently held an open nomination contest, during which Kovach garnered the nomination unopposed (acclaimed). In March 2008, incumbent Liberal
MP Brenda Chamberlain
announced her intention to resign her seat effective April 7, 2008. A by-election
was scheduled in the riding for September 8, 2008, but this was subsequently pre-empted by the issuance of writs for the 2008 federal election
. On election day, October 14, 2008, Kovach was defeated by Liberal nominee Frank Valeriote
, although she did manage to decrease the Conservatives' margin of defeat from nine percent to three, coming in a close second. She was one of only five Conservative nominees in Southwestern Ontario
not to be elected.
In September 2009 Kovach announced she will not run in the next federal election as the conservative candidate. She has stated she will continue to serve the citizens of Guelph on City Council.
Kovach has been recognized by the United Nations
for her work building sustainable communities in Jinja, Uganda
, and in the Czech Republic
.
On December 31, 2007, the Guelph Mercury announced that Kovach was that paper's "Female Newsmaker of the Year" for 2007.
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
politician
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
. She has been a city council
City council
A city council or town council is the legislative body that governs a city, town, municipality or local government area.-Australia & NZ:Because of the differences in legislation between the States, the exact definition of a City Council varies...
lor in Guelph
Guelph
Guelph is a city in Ontario, Canada.Guelph may also refer to:* Guelph , consisting of the City of Guelph, Ontario* Guelph , as the above* University of Guelph, in the same city...
, Ontario
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
since 1991, and is a former president of the Federation of Canadian Municipalities
Federation of Canadian Municipalities
The Federation of Canadian Municipalities is a civic advocacy group representing many Canadian municipalities. It is an organization with no formal power but significant ability to influence debate and policy, as it is main national lobby group of mayors, councillors and other elected municipal...
.
Municipal politics
During her tenure on council representing Ward 4, Kovach has been a member of the Guelph Police Services Board, the River Run Centre Board, the Fire Allocation Committee, the Social Services Committee, the Finance, Community Services, the Museums Board, the Guelph General Hospital Board and currently chairs the newly formed Governance and Economic Development committee. In addition to her experience on council, Kovach is active in community volunteer work, including with the board of the Canadian National Institute for the Blind, as a breast awareness trainer for the Canadian Cancer Society, dragon boat racer, volunteer for Communities in Bloom, past vice-president of the Westhills-Parkwood Gardens Neighborhood Association, Speed River cleanups and other community initiatives. She is a member of the Guelph Legion, Branch 234, and a member of the Guelph Chamber of Commerce.On July 15, 2010 Kovach filed her nomination papers for the October 25, 2010 municipal election in Guelph, and successfully ran for re-election as a councillor representing Ward 4.
Federal politics
In February 2007, Kovach declared her intention to seek the nomination for the Conservative Party of CanadaConservative Party of Canada
The Conservative Party of Canada , is a political party in Canada which was formed by the merger of the Canadian Alliance and the Progressive Conservative Party of Canada in 2003. It is positioned on the right of the Canadian political spectrum...
for the Guelph federal electoral district
Guelph (electoral district)
Guelph is a federal electoral district in Ontario, Canada, that was represented in the Canadian House of Commons from 1979 to 1988 and has been since 2004.The riding's parliamentary seat is held by Liberal MP Frank Valeriote.-History:...
. The Conservative nomination meeting, held on March 20, 2007, at the River Run Centre in Guelph found Kovach on the losing end of the vote that saw Brent Barr, a local businessman, garner the nomination of the party.
Immediately following her unsuccessful bid for the nomination, she was removed from her position as president of the Federation of Canadian Municipalities
Federation of Canadian Municipalities
The Federation of Canadian Municipalities is a civic advocacy group representing many Canadian municipalities. It is an organization with no formal power but significant ability to influence debate and policy, as it is main national lobby group of mayors, councillors and other elected municipal...
. The federation issued a statement indicating that her removal had nothing to do with her performance as president of the federation, but provided no reason for her removal. Kovach speculated that she was removed due to her affiliation with the Conservative Party.
In December 2007, Kovach was named the new candidate for the Conservative Party after controversy erupted when former candidate Brent Barr was removed. The local press wrote that there was "considerable speculation on the possible role Kovach may have played in Barr's ouster and whether she will vie for the position again." The Conservative Party subsequently held an open nomination contest, during which Kovach garnered the nomination unopposed (acclaimed). In March 2008, incumbent Liberal
Liberal Party of Canada
The Liberal Party of Canada , colloquially known as the Grits, is the oldest federally registered party in Canada. In the conventional political spectrum, the party sits between the centre and the centre-left. Historically the Liberal Party has positioned itself to the left of the Conservative...
MP Brenda Chamberlain
Brenda Chamberlain
Brenda Kay Chamberlain, PC was a member of the Canadian House of Commons, representing the riding of Guelph for the Liberal Party from 1993 until her resignation as of April, 2008....
announced her intention to resign her seat effective April 7, 2008. A by-election
By-election
A by-election is an election held to fill a political office that has become vacant between regularly scheduled elections....
was scheduled in the riding for September 8, 2008, but this was subsequently pre-empted by the issuance of writs for the 2008 federal election
Canadian federal election, 2008
The 2008 Canadian federal election was held on Tuesday, October 14, 2008 to elect members to the Canadian House of Commons of the 40th Canadian Parliament after the previous parliament had been dissolved by the Governor General on September 7, 2008...
. On election day, October 14, 2008, Kovach was defeated by Liberal nominee Frank Valeriote
Frank Valeriote
Frank Valeriote is a Canadian politician. He is the Liberal Member of Parliament for the riding of Guelph.-Background:...
, although she did manage to decrease the Conservatives' margin of defeat from nine percent to three, coming in a close second. She was one of only five Conservative nominees in Southwestern Ontario
Southwestern Ontario
Southwestern Ontario is a subregion of Southern Ontario in the Canadian province of Ontario, centred on the city of London. It extends north to south from the Bruce Peninsula on Lake Huron to the Lake Erie shoreline, and east to south-west roughly from Guelph to Windsor. The region had a population...
not to be elected.
In September 2009 Kovach announced she will not run in the next federal election as the conservative candidate. She has stated she will continue to serve the citizens of Guelph on City Council.
Recognition
Due to her community involvement, she has been recognized in Guelph as a "Woman of Distinction" Nominee, and received the YM/YWCA 2006 Peace Medal in recognition for her community work, especially her work with the Canadian Federation of Municipalities to improve relationships between Palestinian and Israeli communities.Kovach has been recognized by the United Nations
United Nations
The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
for her work building sustainable communities in Jinja, Uganda
Jinja, Uganda
Jinja is the largest town in Uganda, Africa. It is the second busiest commercial center in the country, after Kampala, Uganda's capital and only city. Jinja was established in 1907.-Location:...
, and in the Czech Republic
Czech Republic
The Czech Republic is a landlocked country in Central Europe. The country is bordered by Poland to the northeast, Slovakia to the east, Austria to the south, and Germany to the west and northwest....
.
On December 31, 2007, the Guelph Mercury announced that Kovach was that paper's "Female Newsmaker of the Year" for 2007.
Electoral record
| Guelph municipal election, 2010 - Ward 4 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Candidate | Votes | % | ||
| Cam Guthrie | 2,381 | 31.91 | ||
| (x) Gloria Kovach | 1,979 | 26.52 | ||
| Christina Boumis | 1,694 | 22.70 | ||
| (x) Mike Salisbury | 1,199 | 16.07 | ||
| Steven Petric | 207 | 2.77 | ||
| Total valid votes | ||||
| Guelph municipal election, 2006 - Ward 4 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Candidate | David Birtwistle | Cam Guthrie | Gloria Kovach | Mike Salisbury |
| Website | ward4news.ca | gloriakovach.ca | ward4guelph.ca | |
| Status | Incumbent | Incumbent | ||
| Votes | 1244 | 1805 | 2623 | 1999 |
| % | 16.22 | 23.53 | 34.19 | 26.06 |
| Guelph municipal election, 2003 - Ward 4 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Candidate | David Birtwistle | Mark Briestensky | Don Irving | Gloria Kovach Gloria Kovach Gloria Kovach is a Canadian politician. She has been a city councillor in Guelph, Ontario since 1991, and is a former president of the Federation of Canadian Municipalities.-Municipal politics:... |
Steven Petric |
| Status | Incumbent | Incumbent | |||
| Votes | 1,990 | 600 | 1,516 | 2,370 | 467 |
| % | 28.66 | 8.64 | 21.83 | 34.14 | 6.73 |