The Chatham-Kent-Leamington Liberal riding association has selected a social worker to carry their flag into the June provincial election.
Margaret Schleier Stahl has worked for the municipality of Chatham-Kent for the past 26 years, and says the June 7th vote boils down to care versus cuts.
“Working with participants on assistance, many of them are unaware of where to go for referrals, they’re not aware of where some of the agencies are, and I became passionate about advocating for people,” Stahl says. “I’m not a politician, I’m just someone who cares about people and I care about our community.”
The 48-year-old Chatham resident has her Honours Degree in Social Work, Bachelor of Education, and a Life Skills Coaches Certificate.
She says she knows she’s facing an uphill battle in a Conservative-held riding.
“I think we’re going to see past all this and start really looking at what the facts are,” she says. “The facts remain we have the lowest unemployment rate, people want to be working, people need services, we need OHIP+, we need to be caring for our seniors.”
Stahl was the lone candidate nominated to represent the Ontario Liberals in the riding.
Meantime, while there is not yet a candidate selected for the riding of Lambton-Kent-Middlesex, Liberal Party officials say they will have one in place “very soon.”
