1986: A LOOK BACK: Ukrainians in politics (12/28/86)

1986: A LOOK BACK

Ukrainians in politics

Ukrainians became involved in politics this year in a way that they just haven't in the past. The change was most evident in the United States. For the first time in several years, a Ukrainian made a bid for the House of Representatives. Mike Kostiw, a newcomer on the Florida political scene, decided to run for the 16th Congressional District near Miami. Although he lost in the primaries, he did win the support of the Miami Herald, one of the most prestigious newspapers in the United States; he has now also established himself as a serious contender for 1988.

On the state and local levels, political newcomers Mark Murowany and Christine Zarycky, while losing their bids for public office, also garnered name recognition, which will help them in future elections. Mr. Murowany, 30, ran in one of the most important races for the state legislature in Delaware. Ms. Zarycky, 21, is possibly the youngest person in the Ukrainian community to run for political office. A political science major at Wayne State University, she sought the office of county commissioner in the 1st District, near Detroit.

In other news, a Ukrainian, Theodore Romankow, was sworn in on January 1 as the mayor of Berkeley Heights, N.J.

Ukrainian Canadians have been much more involved in the political mainstream. This year proved to be no different. Edmonton Mayor Laurence Decore won a resounding victory in October by a 2.3 to 1 majority.

Also, earlier in the year, Ramon (Ray) Hnatyshyn became a justice minister after a major pre-election Cabinet shuffle by Canadian Prime Minister Brian Mulroney on June 30. The mid-term overhaul was a result of an opinion poll which showed the Mulroney government was trailing by three percentage points behind the Liberals.

Ukrainians were also very active in the Prairie Provinces this year as well.

In Saskatchewan's general election on October 20, Roy Romanow, 44, of the pro-labor New Democratic Party (NDP) regained the seat he had lost by 19 votes in 1982 to Jo-Ann Zazelenchuk, 28, the candidate from the ruling Progressive Conservative (PC) party.

Alberta Ukrainians suffered a major upset on May 10. The most stunning upset was the defeat of one-time Progressive Conservative Party leadership hopeful and Municipal Affairs Minister Julian Koziak, who lost his Edmonton seat by more than 2,000 votes to the NDP candidate.

Bill Diachuk, a Ukrainian in Premier Don Getty's Cabinet missed being re-elected by a wide margin due to a surprising breakthrough by his major opponent, NDP candidate Ed Ewasiuk.

Another disappointment was the appointment of a non-Ukrainian to the Senate seat which was vacated by the untimely death of Sen. Paul Yuzyk in July. Ukrainians had hoped that Sen. Yuzyk's seat would be filled by another Ukrainian, but this did not prove to be the case. Mira Spivak, 52, of Winnipeg, an employee of the Winnipeg Social Planning Council was appointed to that post.

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