Among the seven candidates in the riding of Essex hoping to woo your support in the upcoming Ontario Election Day is a lawyer, an IT professional, a retired Windsor Police officer, a teacher, and an entrepreneur.
The riding will have a new representative in the Ontario legislature after Election Day no matter who wins. The incumbent, Taras Natyshak, decided not to run again after representing Essex for three consecutive terms.
In its current boundaries, the Riding of Essex has existed since 1999. Since then, it has only elected Liberals and NDP candidates, although there is a history of electing Conservatives at the provincial level before riding redistribution. Federally, the riding has elected members from all three major political parties.
Advance polls begin May 19 to May 28.
You can find your polling station on Election Day, June 2, on the Elections Ontario website along with instructions on how to vote by mail.
WindsorNewsToday.ca has collected information on each candidate running in Essex in the Ontario Election, and you can find here information on their background, party platform, and links to their social media.
NDP candidate Ron LeClair. (Photo courtesy of Ron LeClair)
LeClair is a lifelong resident of LaSalle with deep roots in the community.
His 30-years of experience as an officer with the Windsor Police Service qualified him to conduct police consultations across Ontario for the Solicitor General of Ontario.
As a school board trustee, he said he helped secure new schools in Amherstburg and LaSalle.
He also helped steer the Windsor Symphony Orchestra through the pandemic as a member of the WSO Board of Directors.
You can find LeClair on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
He is running for the Ontario New Democrat Party and his party's platform can be found here.
Liberal candidate Manpreet Brar
Liberal Party candidate Manpreet Brar. (Photo courtesy of Manpreet Brar)
Brar and her family have been residents of LaSalle since 1996, but she has been a volunteer with the Liberal Party of Canada since 1992.
Brar has championed the rights of women in Ontario by working to implement the Pay Transparency Act within Ontario workplaces. She has held several global leadership roles as an Information Technology professional.
As the daughter of a veteran and farmer, Brar pledges to work with her counterparts to improve opportunities for small businesses, farmers, entrepreneurs, and workers.
If Brar wins, she'll be the first Liberal candidate to be elected since Bruce Crozier who passed away soon after announcing he would not run again in the 2011 election.
Brar can be found on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, and the Ontario Liberal Party platform can be found here.
Ontario Party candidate Frank Caursarano
Ontario Party candidate Frank Causarano. (Photo courtesy of Frank Causarano)
Causarano is a newcomer to politics, but not Essex County. The 39-year-old entrepreneur is active in his community through his family's business, Anna's Garden, Home and Wellness, which he operates with his wife, Marlene.
He has held positions on numerous local boards that focus on small and medium businesses, including True Kingsville. He has fundraised for churches and local schools.
Causarano became politically active during the pandemic. He said Essex County has borne the brunt of COVID-19 regionally, if not across North America.
He can be found on Facebook, Twitter, TikTok, and Instagram, and the Ontario Party's platform can be found here.
Progressive Conservative candidate Anthony Leardi
PC Candidate in Essex Anthony Leardi. (Photo courtesy of Anthony Leardi)
Those who live in Amherstburg will know Leardi well already since he served two terms on the municipal council, one as the deputy mayor.
Leardi is also a local lawyer with 23-years of experience, including 12-years as a federal agent for the Public Prosecution Service of Canada.
He holds a degree in history from McGill University, in Education from the University of Windsor, and in Law from Western University. He also has a certificate in Law from the Association of Municipal Clerks and Treasurers of Ontario.
In addition to his career in law, Leardi is certified by the Ontario College of Teachers.
In the community, he has served on local organizations like the Knights of Columbus, the Essex County Library Board, and the Essex County Nurse Practitioner Clinic.
Leardi can be found on Facebook and Twitter, and the Progressive Conservative Party platform can be found here.
Green Party candidate Nicholas Wendler
Green Party candidate Nicholas Wendler. (Photo of Nicholas Wendler courtesy of the Green Party)
Wendler plans to be a passionate advocate for better healthcare and social support at Queen's Park if he's elected.
He previously ran for the Green Party provincially in 2018, and federally in 2015 and 2019.
As a person living with Spina Bifida and an amputee, Wendler recognizes the value of community nursing care and how it can enable people to continue day-to-day living while managing their treatments.
Wendler completed a Master's degree in spiritual care and psychotherapy at Wilfrid Laurier University after earning a Bachelor of Arts degree in social development studies at the University of Waterloo.
The Green Party of Ontario platform can be found here.
New Blue Party candidate Danielle Sylvester
New Blue Party candidate Danielle Sylvester. (Photo courtesy of the New Blue Party)
Sylvester describes herself as a homegrown Essex County girl who was born in Windsor and graduated from the University of Windsor.
There, she earned a Bachelor of Arts in History, with special interests in Women's Studies and General Science.
In 2007, she received special training to teach in a Montessori school.
A volunteer since her teen years, the mother of three children has volunteered with local addiction programs.
You can find her on Facebook and Twitter, and the New Blue Party platform here.
None of the Above Party candidate Kevin W. Linfield
None of the Above Party candidate Kevin W. Linfield. (Photo courtesy of the None of the Above Party)
Linfield, an avid outdoorsman, said he is motivated politically by his frustration with the status quo at both the provincial and federal levels of government.
He feels "MPPs and MPs should not be whipped into following party policy ahead of what is best for people in their riding, their province, and their country."
Linfield moved to Essex County in 2000, first to LaSalle and then to Amherstburg.
He has a Ph.D. in Aerospace Science and Engineering from the University of Toronto and is a licensed professional engineer in Ontario and Michigan.
You can find Linfield on Facebook and Twitter. You can learn more about the None of the Above Party here.