Jones, Leardi to represent region at provincial level

By Mark Ribble

Newcomer Trevor Jones upended incumbent Rick Nicholls in the June 2 Provincial election and will head to Toronto soon to get acclimated to his new surroundings.

Jones — the Progressive Conservative candidate — entered the race early and beat runner-up NDP Brock McGregor by over 6,000 votes.

A current Leamington Councillor, Jones finished sixth in the 2018 run for the five-seat municipal council, but was appointed to the seat in the fall of 2020 after the sudden death of Councillor John Jacobs.

Nicholls was the incumbent in the riding even though he had changed parties and ran for the Ontario Party this time around.

He was ousted from the PC party last summer due to his refusal to be vaccinated against COVID-19.

“I am so grateful for the opportunity to serve our communities as MPP and I am humbled by the strong support I received across the riding,” said Jones on Tuesday. “I want to thank my family, friends and the communities that make up Chatham-Kent-Leamington for believing in me and this government.”

“I am eager to apply nearly two decades of public safety expertise and the unique skills I have developed in the multi-billion dollar agri-business sector to support families across Ontario and contribute to the rebuilding of our economy,” he added. “Together, we will ensure Chatham-Kent-Leamington remains a safe, affordable place to raise our families, and a thriving, prosperous centre with high paying, long-term jobs that contribute to the success of our province and our country.”

TREVOR JONES

Jones’ departure from Leamington Council will leave an open seat, which Mayor Hilda MacDonald says must be filled.

“It’s mandated that it gets filled,” she told the Sun.

Nonetheless, she is happy for Jones and says this will be a win-win for everyone.

“We’re happy for him and for this community,” she said. “Trevor is a smart guy and he will do us proud.”

MacDonald says it will greatly benefit the community here, having a Leamington-based representative.

“He understands our needs,” she added.

Jones’ final tally was 17,389 votes for 47.6 per cent of the vote in Chatham-Kent Leamington.

McGregor — a Chatham-Kent municipal Councillor — finished second with 11, 024 votes for 30.2 per cent.

Nicholls was a distant third with 5,416 votes for 14.8 per cent.

The New Blue Party’s Rhonda Jubenville garnered 1,443 votes, while Green Party candidate Jennifer Surerus finished with 1,231 votes.

Liberal candidate Audrey Festeryga withdrew from the race the week prior to the election.

Essex Riding

Amherstburg’s Anthony Leardi took 51.1 per cent of the vote in the riding of Essex to become a first-time Member of Provincial Parliament under the Doug Ford PC government in last Thursday’s election. The seat previously held by NDP MPP Taras Natyshak was up for grabs as Natyshak had announced late last year that he would not seek re-election.

ANTHONY LEARDI

That left Leardi up against new NDP candidate Ron LeClair, whom he bested by over 10,000 votes.

The Essex riding had been an NDP stronghold for several years.

“I represented my clients as a courtroom litigator for the last 24 years,” said Leardi. “Now I’m going to represent all the taxpayers of the riding of Essex.

Leardi has previously been a councillor and Deputy Mayor in Amherstburg.

The switch from NDP to PC for the riding helped usher in a majority government for Doug Ford as he breezed to an easy victory to maintain his position as Premier of Ontario.

“Doug Ford is the right leader to lead Ontario’s economic recovery,” he added. “From historic investments in the auto industry, to a new regional hospital, to widening Highway 3, Doug Ford is going to get it done for Ontario and Essex County.”

In the Essex riding, Leardi finished with 24,682 votes to LeClair’s 13,699.

Liberal candidate Manpreet Brar was a distant third with 4,126 votes, narrowly edging out Ontario Party’s Frank Causarano who garnered 3,305.

New Blue candidate Danielle Sylvester got 1,283 votes, while Green Party’s Nicholas Wendler managed 979, and None of the Above Party’s Kevin Linfield 269 votes.

“This has been a historic election in Essex County. It has been about 60 years since the riding of Essex elected a PC representative,” said Leardi. “Thank you to the voters of Essex for choosing me as your elected representative.”