It came as a hell of a shock to me to hear news of Rod Donald's untimely death on Sunday.
Rod has always stood out to me as someone who was a modest and moderate face for the Greens, and a good tactician and organiser. His work on the Electoral Reform Coalition happened well before I started being interested in politics, but the change to MMP has been vital in securing the prospect of ongoing centre-left government and is a very important part of his legacy.
I guess the implications will sink in over the next few weeks and months but for now I just find myself thinking of his partner and kids, for whom the loss is and must be keenest.
At a political level, it will now take some effort to sustain the resource of a Labour-Green-MP alternative to the current government arrangement. In this, it more than a personal loss and political loss to the Green Party, but to the entire centre-left over the next three years and then beyond.
The Greens may well consider appointing a person from outside it's top 8 list MP's as co-leader. This speaks to the difficulty of replacing the person concerned.
Posted by: SPC | Monday, 07 November 2005 at 07:40 PM
Thus Norman/...? and Nandor.
Posted by: SPC | Monday, 07 November 2005 at 07:43 PM
Too sad for words almost.
Thanks for Rod, and all of his hard work.
Why do all the good ones go before their time?
Posted by: Paul | Tuesday, 08 November 2005 at 12:49 PM