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It’s a big step to cross the line and seek out a career in politics

He will become the first Liberal to declare he’s seeking the nomination in the riding, which has been Liberal in the recent past. Thompson, 50, says he has been “green lit” — given approval by the federal party to run.

His candidacy has been rumoured since he showed up at the Liberal convention in February as a delegate, not as an accredited journalist as he had done at countless political conventions before with the Star.

“As I set foot on the escalator heading up to the convention, it dawned on me that I was there under very different circumstances,” he said.

He says he couldn’t go public with his intention to run while his potential candidacy was under review by the party.

“It has been sort of awkward not to be public about it.”

Thompson is currently on a six-month sabbatical and is writing a second edition of his book about Rwanda; he had reported on the refugee crisis there for the Star.

Thompson says he will continue to campaign after he returns to teaching when his sabbatical ends in the new year. If elected, he will take a leave from his tenured position at Carleton, where he has been on the faculty since 2003. Carleton has a progressive policy that allows faculty to seek positions in public life, he says.

His family still lives in the riding, near Glammis, Ont.

Former Liberal MP Paul Steckle held the seat for 15 years before retiring from politics in 2008. Steckle was a social conservative and opponent of same-sex marriage and abortion rights, but Thompson doesn’t think these issues are top-of-mind for voters in the mostly rural riding.