“Socialist Cowboy” Peter Kormos remembered in new book

Since Peter Kormos’ untimely death last year there’s been a little less colour when it comes to local politicians.

Now a Brock University professor and friend of Kormos, Larry Savage has written a book about the maverick New Democrat called “Socialist Cowboy”.

He began writing the book shortly after the death of the outspoken politician last year. It begins in 1968 when Kormos was the student council president
at Eastdale Secondary in Welland where Savage says he cut his political teeth.

“His reputation as a political rebel began here. He led a student revolt. Authorities were so leery about his powers of persuasion he was
suspended and not allowed to return.”

Kormos held the longest filibuster in Canadian history speaking against the Liberal government’s stand on public auto insurance. It lasted 17 hours.

He was kicked out of cabinet by Premier Bob Rae. Rae says it was because Kormos posed as a “Sunshine Boy.” Kormos said it was
because he criticized Rae for back-peddling on the auto insurance.

Savage says he always thought it wasn’t the Premier who was his boss, but rather his constituents back home in Welland and Thorold.

“He said in his very first race for alderman in 1985 in Welland an older, very frail woman answered the door.  He held out his hand to shake hers and she complained that his handshake was soft. Ever since, he had an iron grip of a handshake.”

His death, says Savage was the loss of a political giant in Ontario.