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Winnipeg Free Press - PRINT EDITION
Architect of NDP's election victory seeks new challenge
THE main architect of the Selinger NDP's historic election victory is stepping down with an eye to returning to international work helping spread democracy.
Michael Balagus, Greg Selinger's chief of staff, announced his resignation to staff Monday afternoon after notifying the premier last week. His last day is Friday, but he said he'll help in the transition to a new staff director and even help in the next election in 2015 if he's available.
Balagus said he's leaving on his own terms.
"It's just time," the 56-year-old Balagus said. "Eight-and-a-half years is a long time. In politics there are very few places where you have a chief of staff that serves two premiers and two elections as campaign director.
"I'm not running away from anything and I'm not being forced out of anything. It's just the right time."
Balagus is considered the brains behind the NDP's branding of Progressive Conservative Leader Hugh McFadyen as someone who would privatize Manitoba Hydro and be a polluter of Lake Winnipeg if elected, two themes that got significant traction in attack ads leading up to election day and contributed to the Tory defeat.
Balagus said he'd like to do more international work in the coming months and years. He worked in Bosnia-Herzegovina and Africa prior to accepting a post in former premier Gary Doer's government. A former TV reporter, he also worked in Howard Pawley's NDP government in the 1980s.
"It's a place where you can make a difference," he said of international work. "It really needs support and help from the outside world."
"I have nothing planned right now, but I do have a list of stuff that I'd like to do," he added.
Ihor Michalchyshyn has been named acting chief of staff.
"These kinds of jobs where you get to influence things and you get to be part of helping people in getting stuff done, it's a fantastic job. ... I'll miss it a lot, a tremendous amount."
Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition January 17, 2012 A7
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