As Ontario residents prepare themselves for the Feb. 27 election, one candidate in the Essex riding wants to let voters know there is an alternative choice to the main-stream political parties.
Amherstburg resident Dr. Kevin Linfield wants local residents to know that there are other parties and candidates who are running besides the traditional main-stream parties.
This is his second time to be on the ballot for the None of the Above Party (NOTA) having received 271 votes in 2022.
“Only 42 per cent of the eligible people to vote voted in 2022 and I don’t like that. People are apathetic. I want people to be able to have a protest vote,” said Linfield.
Linfield is an aerospace engineer, an avid sportsman, and married with five children.
One reason he is seeking a seat at Queen’s Park is to address what he considers to be the main issue in the area.
“We need better housing. I have five kids who can’t afford to buy a house. Housing prices have gone through the roof,” says Linfield.
Linfield is admittedly skeptical about his chances of winning as he goes up against incumbent PC Anthony Leardi, also from Amherstburg, Liberal Party candidate Tamara Stomp, New Democratic Party candidate Rachael Mills and Green Party candidate Steve Higgins.
Also on the ballot for Feb. 27 are Independent William Szabo Verzoc, Ontario Party candidate Travis Jacques and New Blue Party candidate Brigitte Belton.
“Many people are apathetic. I think a lot of them will stay home, not vote and say, why even bother,” said Linfield.
The River Town Times, as of press time, were unsuccessful in hearing back from Jacques and Belton.
It has been a very short campaign for candidates across the province and according to Linfield, the limited time and weather have proven obstacles when it comes to getting the word out.
“The ground is frozen. I can’t get my signs into the ground.”
The None of the Above Party was formed in 2014 by Greg Vezina who continues to be the party’s leader.
Part of their campaign calls for a referendum on Trump Tariffs as well as strategic voting to defeat PC Leader Doug Ford.
In 2022, NOTA had 28 candidates and in 2018, 42. To date, they have not been able to secure a seat in the Legislature.
Windsor-Essex Chamber of Commerce was scheduled to host an all-candidates meeting this Wednesday (Feb. 19) but the in-person format has been cancelled.
Essex County council has put out a plea to all candidates to help secure the county, what it considers to be its fair share when it comes to funding to help provide for its residents.
“County of Essex is calling on provincial candidates to commit to addressing priority issues identified by county council,” says a posting on the county’s website. “Addressing these priorities is crucial to the quality of life of Essex County residents and the continued economic development of this diverse and growing region.”
Also noted by the county is that local residents are being asked to be liable for what have been traditionally provincial responsibilities including health care, housing and social services.
Amherstburg’s Kevin Linfield running for NOTA party
By Fred Groves
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