A familiar face will be running in the upcoming federal election this fall as the New Democratic Party candidate for the Chatham-Kent-Leamington riding.
Tony Walsh celebrated his uncontested nomination at a meeting held on Monday. Walsh is no stranger to the campaign trail as he previously ran during the 2015 federal election, where he walked away with some lessons learned.
"I think the important lesson is to make sure that you get your message out, that you get to meet as many people as possible, and show the platform," he said. "The New Democrats are leading the fight for the things that matter to people. We have the courage to do what's right and to do it now before it's too late."
As a father of three, Walsh said securing a future for his family and seeing other families able to do the same is one of the reasons he chose to run as an NDP candidate.
"There has been decades of governments in Ottawa that have been stripping away the basic things that we count on -- good health care, secure and good-paying jobs, knowing we can afford to retire without going broke, a home we can call our own, clean air and water, and knowing that our kids have every chance to succeed," said Walsh.
Another important point for Walsh in regards to the NDP platform has to do with addressing environmental concerns. According to the NDP's website, there's a commitment to protect land, air, and water.
"We can make different choices for our environment and the future of our communities," he said. "We can transition into clean energy, and a carbon-free economy while investing in workers and creating jobs."
In terms of local environmental concerns, Walsh said if elected, he would make it known what residents living along the Lake Erie shoreline are facing -- specifically with the Talbot Trail closure.
"We simply can't close down roads and divert traffic, we need sustainable plans that are looking after our shorelines," he said.
Over the next two months, Walsh will be busy campaigning but he also works as an investment consultant for CIBC. Occupation aside, he also has a long list of volunteer experience with organizations such as the United Way of Chatham-Kent, Habitat for Humanity, and local Kinsmen clubs.
Other residents who will be campaigning for the Chatham-Kent-Leamington riding include Liberal candidate Katie Omstead, Conservative candidate David Epp, Green Party candidate Mark Vercouteren, and People's Party candidate John Balagtas.