Meet your candidates: Windsor-West

Candidates for Windsor-West have been set. Henry Lau, left, Teresa Piruzza, center, and Lisa Gretzky, right, can be seen in this photo. (CTV Windsor)

All three party leaders took to the road Monday, as they kick off campaigning for a June 12 election.

In Windsor, local candidates are gearing up and getting ready for the start of canvassing in the weeks to come, but only one riding has announced all of its contenders. That riding is Windsor-West.

Teresa Piruzza – Liberals (I)

Piruzza won the riding of Windsor-West in October 2011 – filling the shoes of long-time MPP Sandra Pupatello. She now holds the portfolio of children and youth services.

Since being elected, Piruzza has helped secure jobs and fought alongside hospital officials to keep thoracic surgeries in the Rose City.

Prior to being elected, she worked as executive director for youth employment and social services for the City of Windsor. Piruzza was also a representative with the Windsor-Essex Local Immigration Partnership Council.

Lisa Gretzky – NDP

Before taking an eye at provincial politics, Gretzky served as vice-chair of the Greater Essex County District School Board for several years. As a trustee she serves over hundreds of thousands of students and helped handle millions in budgetary dollars.

At the same time, Gretzky runs and operates her own event planning business.

Henry Lau – Progressive Conservatives

After years of working in the tool and dye industry Lau has set his eyes on the Windsor-West riding.

Lau has experience running a business and creating jobs. In 1997 Lau started Standard Tool & Mold Inc. with only two employees, and turned it into a company. Still operating today, Lau sold his shares to his business partner in 2006.

He’s hoping to translate his business skills over to provincial politics.