– It was very nice. I take it as an honor, not only for myself, but also as an honor for the local team I lead and the team of great people we have there. So says Trond Giske, leader of Nidaros’ democratic forum, who was recently named “Trond Home of the Year” by Nidaros. In addition to Giske, Ann Kristin Søruburø Michael, Marte Lønvik Bjørnsund, Kent Aune and Kjetil Rekdal were nominated. – To become “Trondhjemmer of the Year” for running politics and getting many members – did you see it coming? – No, it was a bit surprising, says Giske. – I have been involved in politics full-time for almost 30 years. There weren’t that many prizes then. Now it’s voluntary – I don’t have a krone in salary from any political place, and I think that’s part of the recipe. That it is at grassroots level. Stand out Stig Jakobsen, responsible editor and general manager of Nidaros, is clear that Giske stood out among the nominees. – The typical nominees will always be people who have done charity work, are great sports heroes or someone who has acted respectably. He too was surprised that Giske remained the winner. – It is important to emphasize that this is a readers’ poll, and not something that the editors at Nidaros have come up with. Stig Jakobsen says that Giske got a clear majority. Around a thousand of the newspaper’s subscribers voted in the award. – Trond Giske got a clear majority, and was nominated the most times by readers. There was no editorial process either, Jakobsen points out. – Weird After the results of the selection became clear, Storting representative Sivert Bjørnstad (Frp) wrote on Twitter that “A guy living in Oslo will be this year’s throne holder. And that’s not even the saddest part.” He points his finger at Nidaros, who he believes could have brought forth an everyday hero instead of a politician. – I think it’s a little strange that someone who mainly lives in Oslo with his family gets the award as “Trondhjemmer of the Year”. Admittedly, it is the readers who have voted for him, but it is Nidaros who has selected five candidates who should be nominated. They must take part of the blame here, says Bjørnstad. He describes four out of five candidates as good and worthy alternatives. – They had also been good winners and as far as I know they live in Trondheim. Sivert Bjørnstad (Frp), who himself comes from Trondheim, is not impressed by Nidaros after being named “Trondheimer of the Year”. Photo: Anne Cecilie Remen / news He refers to the newspaper’s own description that “Trondhjemmer of the Year” is a person who in 2022 has made an extraordinary effort for others, is a role model, has inspired others or made a difference in the local community. – It would have been possible to find another fifth candidate who would have suited the text better than Trond Giske, says Bjørnstad. – I think of all the everyday heroes we have in Trondheim, who get up in the morning and make efforts for the city’s population every single day in various ways. When the fifth candidate is someone I don’t think fits perfectly into the category, I understand that someone else is disappointed. I think it must be possible to distinguish between the obviously good work Giske has done in his forum over the past year – but I don’t think that should automatically trigger a nomination for “Trondhjemmer of the Year”. Giving away the money – It is not too surprising that one of the FRP’s leading politicians in the Storting thinks it terribly stupid that a party based on social democratic values and a leader there, is both nominated and elected by the readers. That is Giske’s answer to the criticism from Bjørnstad. The prize comes with a cash prize of NOK 10,000. Giske says that the money will be given away to a charitable purpose. – Let’s just roll up our sleeves and pay tribute to all the everyday heroes. And then it is great that political voluntary grassroots work is also rewarded. I hope many more organize – we need much more commitment.
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Trond Giske named “Trondhjemmer of the Year” by Nidaros – parliamentary representative reacts – news Trøndelag
