NSW Nationals MP for Clarence 'Lazybones' Gulaptis and hollow crowing on Facebook and in the media

This was NSW National Party MP for Clarence Chris Gulaptis on his Facebook page on 18 July 2012:

Clarence Valley Regional Airport will get a much-needed $2.12 million upgrade thanks to a generous loan subsidy from the NSW Government’s Local Infrastructure Renewal Scheme.

What a pity that it not-so-innocently slipped his mind that the O’Farrell Government was only offering a NSW LIRS Round One 4 per cent subsidy of the market interest rate and that this involved Clarence Valley Council taking out a $1.06 million third party loan with the balance of the upgrade costs unmet as yet.

Full funding for the $2.12 million regional airport upgrade did not come about until a further $1.06 million came from the Federal Labor Government as a Round Four grant by the Regional Development Australia Fund announced on 12 June 2013 – almost a year later.

Not that much for Gulaptis to crow about there – most of the spade work appeared to have been done by Federal Labor MP for Page Janelle Saffin and Clarence Valley Council.

Chris Gulaptis was back using his favourite political ploy again in August 2013.

This time taking credit for a $3 million commercial loan that Richmond Valley Council is taking out to upgrade the Casino Regional Livestock Exchange.

The Northern Star 1 August 2013:

Member for Clarence, Chris Gulaptis, yesterday announced the council had been awarded a low-interest loan under the NSW Government's Local Infrastructure Renewal Scheme at a fixed 3% interest.

Of course what is really happening is that the O'Farrell Government is granting a 3 per cent subsidy of the market interest rate on a third party loan as part of NSW LIRS Round Two.

And just as before, it is the Federal Labor Government which has provided a grant to improve cattle delivery and receival into the saleyards - this time for a total of $636,000  under the Heavy Vehicle Safety and Productivity Program. Update: Plus a $3.5 million grant under the Federal Government's Round Five of the Regional Development Australia Fund announced on 6 August 2013.

Once more the heavy lifting appears to have been done by Ms. Saffin and Richmond Valley Council.

Nationals MP for Clarence Chris Gulaptis has his work ethic - or lack of it - questioned

From Clarence Valley Rate Payers, Residents & Business Owners Facebook page:

                                                                                                                  

Ursh Tunks  

I finally got a copy of Page Federal MP Janelle Saffins letter of response from the NSW Health Department in relation to her representations on our behalf about the closure of the Haemotology Unit at Grafton Base hospital.

Ironically I suffered quite some flack in certain quarters for daring to question the work ethic of the State Member for Clarence's in particular the electorate office team that purports to work for all the electorate not just their preferred residents and business owners.

A copy of the State Members letter from the same NSW Health Department official details that they received representation from his office via a letter on the 7th of March and a telephone call from his office on the 12th of March. You'll note that Janelle's letter was received by the Health Department on the 24th of January, a good 6 weeks prior to Gulaptis'.

When I contacted the Gulaptis' electorate office in January to advise them of the situation with Haematology Unit the chap that answered the phone told me they had already been contacted by other constituents prior to Christmas about the problem.

Correct me if I am wrong but issues in relation to operational NSW Health matters are the purview of the state governments, and therefore the responsibility for these matters in our electorate are the responsibility of the State Member and his staff.

The situation wasn't some minor issue. The Haematology Unit is vital to the delivery of services to constituents and their families who suffer from bone/blood related cancers. Surely if the state members office was aware prior to Christmas they should made representations then, not three months later.

Our Federal MP realised the import of the situation to our community and made representations on our behalf even though this was an operational NSW Health matter and not in the purview of her responsibilities.

I've been criticised and even threatened because of willingness to openly discuss this issue and the fact that I consider I have the right to comment publicly on what appears to be the failure of our elected state representative and his staff to act in a timely manner for our best interests.

Apparently having the hide to openly discuss the service delivered by our representatives, who are paid to represent us - by us, isn't popular in some quarters. Those quarters are also using tax payer funded time to target people who have the hide to question them. Very curious ... and somewhat indicative of the issue at hand.

If you do your job properly you won't have to waste our money covering your ar*e.

Now Official: NSW O'Farrell Government has sent Grafton into permanent decline

Like many country areas around New South Wales, Grafton City and environs has seen past glories turn into a falling population, less young people of working age living in town, higher unemployment rates than both state and national averages, a slowly shrinking viable central business district and rolling job losses as large companies withdraw to bigger regional or metropolitan centres.

Despite these woes, it had remained the transport  hub for the Clarence Valley, the centre for most locally delivered state and federal government services and, one of two main administrative centres for the local government area.

That changed less than two hours ago when the O'Farrell-Stoner-Gulaptis juggernaut finally sent in prison vans (protected by members of the police riot squad) to remove inmates from Grafton Gaol - turning it into a 60 bed remand centre for individuals awaiting court appearances.

Grafton has now lost 107 permanent jobs which will depress the local economy further and have a flow-on effect across the Valley.

The very craven Nationals Member for Clarence Chris Gulaptis reportedly turned up outside the gaol after those vans had entered the prison.

Former Member for Clarence, Steve What's-his-name, gets an unfavourable mention in Hansard

On 22 February the former MP for Clarence, Steve 'Stat Dec' Cansdell received a mention in the Legislative Assembly but it was not one that he is expected to obtain a copy of and paste in his scrap book.

Craig Baumann, the member for Port Stephens (he's a member of the Liberal Party) remarked to the current MP for Clarence, Christopher Gulaptis:

As one who sat next to Steve in this place for four years, I think Steve held the record for being late for question time. I think you, Mr Assistant-Speaker, would agree.

Source: Hansard, NSW Legislative Assembly, 22/2/12

Seems the electorate of Clarence has a phantom Local Member

Despite being declared the winner of the 19 November by-election a week ago and being sworn in as the Member for Clarence last Friday a happy snap of Chris Gulaptis is yet to appear on the NSW Parliament's website.

A couple of mates at the local watering hole reckon the no-show by Gulaptis on the parliament's website is easily explained.
One mate reckons the photographer couldn't manage to get the new MP's head in the photo shoot - a panorama shot was required.
Another mate reckons that because the new local MP wears the label "Steve Gulaptis" the delay in getting an image on the site is due to a problem in getting a composite shot of Steve and Chris.
The first mate also reckons teams of carpenters have had to be urgently employed at parliament house and the local MP's electorate office. The reason >>>>>>>> tops of doorways have had to be widened to enable Gulaptis to get his swollen head through them.

A walk down memory lane as the Clarence electorate prepares to vote on 19 November 2011

ABC Unleashed in 2007:

For instance, Chris Gulaptis, the candidate for their only marginal seat, Page, stated in public and on the record that people living in the northern rivers region should just put up with lower wages because of the scenery - and how about the serenity? I don't know, I just don't think this is the canniest vote-winning tactic in one of the poorest areas in Australia.

Clarence By-election: Nationals also on the nose in the northern end of the electorate

While much of the reporting about the National Party and its candidate Chris Gulaptis has concentrated on the Clarence valley where it has to be said they're on the nose for taking the electorate for granted a couple of contributors to The Northern Star have reminded readers that it's not all plain sailing for the Nationals in the north.

Nationals 'thumb nose' at democracy

My teenage daughter saw a National Party TV ad last night that shows Mr Cansdell supporting his replacement and asked if this was the same guy who was under a police investigation.

I said yep that is him.

She said that they have some real arrogance for even a politician to have him spruiking.

Seems they are just thumbing their noses at our democracy.

I agreed and thought, yes, they seem to not care that one of their number may have broken the law.

That was OK, not a big deal, just vote us in again.

I am greatly concerned about the message this is sending to our young people. What's next?

Alex Smith, Ballina

Two, by George

How can Stuart George, councillor with Richmond Valley Council, represent the people of the Richmond Valley properly and without bias when dealing with CSG issues when he is now an employee of Metgasco?

Moreover, how can Thomas George, State Member for Lismore, do likewise with family interests associated with Metgasco?

It appears that LNG now have 10% of shares in Metgasco and LNG is a majority owned subsidiary of China National Petroleum Corporation.

Guess where the CSG drilled in our area will be going to?

Yep, export to China.

And this will be to the detriment of our World Heritage listed areas of the Border Ranges National Park and the Great Barrier Reef.

Please write to Janelle Saffin and Thomas George pointing out your opposition to the expansion of CSG.

John Heaton, Uralba

Source: Letters, The Northern Star, 17/11/11

What a Political Whopper!

Has to be the biggest political whopper so far in the battle for the seat of Clarence, and I don’t mean from the pen of Bill O‘Donnell……..

“NATIONAL Party candidate for the Clarence by-election Chris Gulaptis has described as "lies" claims he had ever sought preselection for the Labor party.”

Oh, and the way I’ve always heard it from political insiders over the years, it was Chris who approached the ALP not the other way round as he is now claiming.

Gall-aptis also forgets that the truth has been out there on Teh Intenetz, reading to haunt him:

Chris cross

THERE is an old Turkish saying that goes something like this: "If you don't tell the truth make sure you have one foot in the stirrups."

The level of fiction in the Chris Gulaptis letter (DE March 22) almost guarantees he'll shortly be in the market for a good horse.

Probably about the time Janelle Saffin, and not Steve Cansdell, delivers on Grafton Base Hospital.

But it's the last paragraph of his letter that really should have Chris Gulaptis galloping off into the sunset.

He's on pretty shaky ground when he starts accusing people of being something they are not.

I've been around the Labor Party a long time and I wouldn't know Craig Howe if I fell over him.

The Gulaptis story, however, is a little different. His claim to be National Party first, last and foremost is a road to Damascus conversion and came after he couldn't get what he wanted from the ALP.

He shed plenty of sweat chasing a position with Labor, right down to travelling to Sydney to meet with the then NSW general secretary, Mark Arbib, former minister Harry Woods and Harry's chief of staff Mike Fleming.

His comment that Steve Cansdell won seven primary votes to every one of Craig Howe's only proves he knows how to use a calculator.

The fact that Janelle Saffin is now in Federal Parliament proves that what the ALP thought of Chris Gulaptis was spot on.

Terry Flanagan

Orara Way

Much better to stick with the uncomfortabe truth, Chris. You should recall from 2007 that we all have long memories of the incredible length to which your nose can grow.

Not the sort of reaction Premier O'Farrell and What's-iz-Name expected

Poor old Hapless Gulaptis can’t take a trick. The biggest political heavy he could draw into his campaign to win the Clarence election and this is fairly indicative of the media response on the day of the visit - barely concealed laughter.

Jules Faber in The Daily Examiner 4th Novemeber 2011

Premier laughs off gaffe by Rodney Stevens on 4th November 2011

“AFTER spelling his candidate's name wrong on a twitter post about visiting Grafton, NSW Premier Barry O'Farrell walked the streets of the Jacaranda city yesterday showing his support for Chris "Galuptis".

Almost two hours after arriving at Mr Gulaptis' Prince St campaign office dressed in a tie, after soaking up Jacaranda Thursday celebrations, Mr O'Farrell held a press conference, sans tie at Market Square.

Mr O'Farrell laughed off the spelling gaffe, saying it was probably auto-correct that resulted in Mr Gulaptis' name being spelt wrong...”

Comments

By blind-freddie from Iluka on 4/11/2011 at 8:03AM

O'Farrell's 'slip of the lip' makes me wonder if he sees his colleague-to-be as a bit of a galloper- and on a heavy track, stuck in mud, being harshly ridden, under the whip, only worth a long shot bet, a bit spavined, running for second place, heading for the glue factory, or even a touch of Fine Cotton. Or is the race fixed, a done deal, a one horse race, with only the gallop down the home strait needed for victory.

Is Gulaptis a real friend of public education or does he sing from O'Farrell's song sheet?

In TV ads promoting Chris Gulaptis as the Nationals candidate for Clarence Mr Gulaptis is seen standing near public schools. He sent his children to public schools and is quick to remind the electorate that he was the president of the Maclean High School Parents & Citizens Association.  

Mr Gulaptis should read Dick McDermott's letter to the editor of The Coffs Coast Advocate (see below) and then come out and tell the Clarence electorate where he really stands in relation to public education in November 2011.

Schools sold out

I've been a teacher for 38 years. I retire next year. I never believed I would see the day any State Government, be it Labor or conservative, would stoop to a level so low that they would hold their teachers to ransom rather than negotiate a new award which would allow wages to keep pace with inflation.

From January 1, 2012, public school teachers' salaries will be reduced annually unless they agree to measures that would relieve the government of the responsibility to fully fund the learning conditions of pupils in public schools.

Incidentally, there are no such conditions placed on teachers in private schools

What the latest O'Farrell legislation amounts to is asking the state's teachers, those who deliver the service, to finance the very service they are providing.

What the O'Farrell Government, of which local member Andrew Fraser is a member, is clearly doing is attempting to run down public education, the only education open to those most in need.

One in two people with children in public schools must have actually voted for Mr Fraser in the last election never having been told this was his agenda.

The O'Farrell Government is masking its deceit, attempting to hide this abrogation of responsibility by cloaking it in terms of what they call local autonomy.

By kidding parents that giving local school communities the choice to run their public schools the way they want, the government is slyly absolving itself of the responsibility to run our public schools the way they should be run.

This local autonomy push is a great "con" perpetrated by politicised bureaucrats and those who would be.

Don't fall for it mums and dads; it is yet another case of a national asset being flogged off or driven into the ground in the name of privatisation, but this time it will directly affect your kids.

Please see through the spin, join with teachers and resist.

Dick McDermott

Source: Letters, Coffs Coast Advocate, 5/11/11

Have former MP Ian Causley and would-be-if-he-could-be-MP Chris Gulaptis agreed to bury the hatchet?

             ... or is it just a PR exercise?

Facebook reveals:

When Ian Causley retired from federal parliament in 2007 National Party loyalists believed they were gifting the seat of Page to the up-and-coming, slay-'em-in-the-aisles, pretty boy Chris Gulaptis. 

However, Labor's Janelle Saffin had different ideas about that.

Gulaptis lost the election, leaving local Nationals shell-shocked. Word had it that the retired MP was not at all amused - he was gutted!.

After all, Gulaptis who had been given the official nod when he comfortably defeated Dr Sue Page for Nationals' preselection, said he felt honoured by the confidence party members had shown in him and he would work to meet their expectations. 

Boy-oh-boy, he let them down in a big way!

So, the $64 question is:  

Can Gulaptis do it all again and lose the Nationals family jewels in Clarence?

NSW North Coast Nats political lies and funding fudges continue

In January 2010 a published NSW Government e-tendering document clearly stated that a construction company had received an estimated $11.73 million, multi-stage, two and a half year contract to upgrade Casino Public School, in keeping with its heritage-listed buildings.

This is confirmed in the Casino Public School 2010 Annual School Report:

Principal’s message

There were many highlights to the 2010 school year at Casino Public School.

The Major Capital Works program commenced with the construction of new buildings including: the first stage of R Block(two classrooms), T Block (a Support Unit with four classrooms), S Block (a library and a cultural room). R and S Blocks were funded from the Building an Education Revolution (BER) program. All other works will be funded by major capital works funding from the NSW Department of Education and Training. It is anticipated that these state of the art facilities will be available for use early in Term 1 2011. The program of building and refurbishment will continue in 2011 and is due for completion in 2012. The excellent communication and cooperation between Asset Management, Department of Commerce, the school, Woollam Constructions staff and their subcontractors has been a contributing factor to the success of the program.

Not content with attempting to fudge the level of the O’Farrell Government’s contribution to Grafton and Maclean Hospital upgrades, the Nationals candidate in the Clarence by-election, Chris Gulaptis, is obviously aiming for a trifecta.

With a glossy campaign leaflet mail-out which attempts to pass off $3.7 million allocated to the Casino Public School upgrade as one of the Nationals March 2011 election commitments delivered freely and, not what it is in reality, money to cover a staged payment which is part of an existing building contract sealed before the Coalition came to government.

The O’Farrell Government’s 2011-12 budget papers give the game away by referring to the $3.7 million as Continued major building projects at Casino Public School or as the then Nationals MP for Clarence Steve Cansdell put it $3.7 million has been allocated to complete the upgrade of Casino Public School.

One wonders why Gulaptis keeps repeating those tired old 2007 bad habits, until catching sight of one of the good ole boys who have come north to help him out in 2011…….

Photo from Facebook

Saffin furious about Gulaptis incorrect claims over funding for Grafton Base

Saffin furious about Gulaptis incorrect claims over funding for Grafton Base

Page MP Janelle Saffin said it is outrageous that Clarence National Party candidate, Chris Gulaptis, is still trying to promote himself by incorrectly aligning himself with millions of dollars in funding for Stage 2 of Grafton Base Hospital, despite the facts being made clear.

“Mr Gulaptis had absolutely nothing to do with the funding, which may be why he got the amount wrong, saying $9 million when it is $10 million.

“Local people know better than Mr Gulaptis where the money has come from.

“I lobbied for the money for Stage 2, to provide the new X-Ray department along with 6 orthopaedic beds and a kitchen.

“Federal Health minister, Nicole Roxon, provided $6 million and the then State Health Minister, Carmel Tebbutt, provided the $4 million.

“I personally thanked the Treasurer Eric Roozendaal for securing the funds, and I have a copy of the letter that Mr Roozendaal wrote to Minister Tebbutt last November, confirming that the money was secured.

“So if Mr Gulaptis got the figure wrong, and where the money came from, with such a key development for Grafton, we have to ask, what else he has got wrong.

“I cannot let this rest. 

“By trying to claim this as O’Farrell Government funding, Mr Gulaptis is not being straight with the people he hopes to represent.

“When he was caught out making this tricky claim, he should have admitted his mistake.

“In public life there are principles that we expect to be upheld, - including giving credit where it is due, and admitting your mistakes. 

“If you make a mistake, you say it.  I do and so did former Clarence MP, Steve Cansdell.

“Steve and I had sometimes had our differences, but we worked together for our local community and always acknowledged the efforts of all those who worked to bring better services, especially in health.

“Come clean Chris and put right a wrong.

“Am I furious?  You bet.”

[Media release, 20 October 2011]                                         

Clarence By-election: weeping with laughter in the first week of the unofficial election campaign

When I first read the health funding claims of Nationals candidate Chris Gulaptis I was frankly sceptical, given his past record of saying any old thing to support his position.

I searched the Internet until I found a copy of the agreement between the Commonwealth and the NSW Government concerning Grafton Base Hospital.

I also hunted cyberspace for any evidence that his predecessor had ever made the same claim.

Result – Gulaptis was incorrect in claiming either the NSW Nationals or the O'Farrell Government had supplied the entire amount of this funding or that Steve Cansdell had made a statement to that effect. Nor are his assertions concerning Maclean District Hospital correct.

When the media first queried the Gulaptis claim this is what he said:

Mr Gulaptis defended the figures he quoted, claiming they were in a press release Mr Cansdell sent out before his resignation on September 16.

"The $9 million is in relation to the orthopaedic ward and imaging expansion.

So it was to the accompaniment of helpless laughter that I read this article in The Daily Examiner today, in which he ends with an outright misrepresentation of his original statements and a bald untruth about the funding process, as well as omitting to mention the fact that the Commonwealth has already begun scheduled funding payments:

Poll stoush over hospital funding  by Tim Howard

THE Nationals candidate for the Clarence by-election, Chris Gulaptis, has been caught out with claims the State Government has stumped up $9 million for Grafton Base Hospital says an opponent.

Following his preselection on Sunday, Mr Gulaptis included a figure of $9 million for Grafton Base Hospital among "hundreds of millions of dollars" the Nationals had directed toward the Valley since the March State election.

The chairman of the hospital Medical Staff Council, Allan Tyson, questioned the claim on Monday and yesterday the Country Labor candidate Peter Ellem accused Mr Gulaptis of "overstretching" with the claim.

"Mr Gulaptis, either through ignorance or incompetence, is inappropriately claiming credit for Grafton Base Hospital funding provided by the Commonwealth and former State Labor governments last year," Mr Ellem said.

"I'm calling on Mr Gulaptis to provide the budget details of his claim - where is the $9 million for Grafton Base Hospital?

"If it is the same $6 million from the Commonwealth and the $4 million announced by the former Labor State government, Mr Gulaptis should apologise for misleading the local community.

The claim has also angered Federal Member for Page Janelle Saffin, who worked hard to make sure the money came to the hospital during the 2010 Federal election campaign.

"I'm furious that someone can try and take credit for something they had nothing to do with," Ms Saffin said.

"What he's saying is wrong in fact and wrong in any sort of insinuation.

"And to attempt to blame Steve (Cansdell) left me speechless.

"I never saw any such release and I know Steve never tried to claim anything like this. He always said it was a good thing the hospital got that funding."

Mr Gulaptis defended his assertion yesterday, and upped it by $1 million.

"Over the course of the weekend I referred to the $10 million allocated to Grafton Hospital - one of many projects in the Clarence Electorate to receive funding in the 2011 State budget papers," Mr Gulaptis said in a prepared release.

"The NSW Government budget papers for the Liberal and Nationals' first State budget are clear and in black and white.

"There is a total of $10 million in COAG funding for Grafton Base Hospital, consisting of $4 million from the State Government and $6 million from the Federal Government.

"This is being delivered. It is not a promise from a former minister, nor an undertaking from a senior departmental officer but a hard-line item with funding from both the Federal and State governments to improve health infrastructure for the people of Clarence.

"Many State Labor health promises over the years were never delivered. The Nationals have actually handed down the funding for this project."

Writs for the Clarence By-election will not be issued until 28 October and candidate nominations only open on the same day. The NSW Nationals still have time to change their minds and rectify their biggest mistake this year.

Nats' candidate for Clarence ... business interests ...???

A search of the facilities provided by the Australian Business Register shows that the name Gulaptis is associated with a number of business entities with the postcode 2463 (Maclean, NSW). A couple of the other names that the Gulaptis name is associated with are, hmmmmm, interesting, to say the least.

Click on image to enlarge

Clarence By-election 2011: Susie2 luvs Chris07

It’s not hard to believe that Susie2 from Maclean on the NSW North Coast likes to write online comments favouring conservative politicians, Coalition policies and rampant coastal development.

What was somewhat of a surprise was to find that she obviously loves the thought of a resurgent Chris07. Even marked hair loss doesn’t dim her somewhat error-ridden enthusiasm.

This is Susie2 in The Daily Examiner on 23 September 2011:

By Susie2 from Maclean on 23/9/2011 at 5:38PM

This is the most fanatastic news. Tell the rest to give up now.

By Susie2 from Maclean on 23/9/2011 at 9:43PM

There were a lot of people who missed out in the Kevin 07 phenomenon and look where that got us.
Mr Galaptis is a very respected former Mayor of Maclean Shire, Past President of the P and C, and businessman, with a very respected family. He is a resident of Maclean and has always been, but has had to travel interstate to work in his field.
Lets stick to the facts people.

By Susie2 from Maclean on 24/9/2011 at 9:54AM

….No. He left for work purposes and he has maintained his affiliation with the Nationals all that time.

Dont berate him because he does take the opportunity to finally work from home after all these years.
If he did what you say he did (leaving with his tail between his legs) he would have sold his house and moved years ago.
Mr Gulaptis was voted in as a Maclean Shire Councillor with one of the biggest first prefence selections ever done. Somebody must think he is respected.

By Susie2 from Maclean on 24/9/2011 at 7:20PM

….Totally agree LynF3997. Chris did not leave town as suggested, but has maintained his links with Maclean as the family home is there: he just left for work. As Councillor of Maclean Shire he won by"a country mile" when taking out the biggest first preference vote which had been secured for many years.

Mr Guaptis is a person of integrity and by far the best candidate. I wish him well.

By Susie2 from Maclean on 25/9/2011 at 4:45PM

….Oh please be fair..it wasn't his fault the Electoral Commision redrew the boundaries excluding Maclean when the town had always been part of Page.
And as he had a high profile in the area every party chased him, not the other way around.

My old gran used to say you're known by the company you keep

Before he left for Queensland where he hoped (but apparently failed) to further his political career, one of the candiates for Nationals pre-selection to contest the NSW Clarence by-election, Chris Gulaptis, rarely missed a photo opportunity. These are with the now former and disgraced Nats Clarence MP, Steve Cansdell, pictured below. Pics from Google Images

It's now a Melbourne Cup field looking for Nats' preselection

After reporting on Stuart George's nomination for National Party pre-selection for the by-election in Clarence and thinking all's quiet on the local front, a ghost from the past has suddenly sprung up and lodged a nomination for Nats' pre-selection in Clarence.

Chris Gulaptis

Chris Gulaptis has returned to the local scene and announced he's going to do a big favour for locals in the Clarence valley and offer his services as a prospective local member.

To say that Gulaptis has form would be something of an understatement.

When another cousin, Tweedie Rivers, heard about Gulaptis's plans she asked, "Is Murray Lees part of Gulaptis's band of helpers?"

Who's Murray Lees?

Read The Daily Examiner's coverage of Gulaptis's nomination here.