A Chatham-Kent councillor has announced his intention to make the jump to federal politics.
Ward 3 councillor David VanDamme will seek a nomination to join the Conservatives in Ottawa for the riding of Chatham-Kent-Leamington after four years serving at the municipal level.
VanDamme says he decided against seeking re-election in October's municipal election.
"For over 20-years I've always sort of set my sights on federal politics and I think the time is right now," says VanDamme. "I'm going to go through the arduous process and hopefully get enough delegates to go into the nomination meeting and pull this thing off."
He feels now is the right time for him to make the jump.
"I've got the experience," says VanDamme. "I understand the issues as they relate to Leamington and the greenhouse industry with some of the challenges there. "Having been four years with municipal council in Chatham-Kent and representing a large portion of those people already hopefully I can have a broader discussion in Ottawa."
VanDamme is looking to replace the retiring Dave Van Kesteren.
The Conservative Riding Association for Chatham-Kent-Leamington is expected to hold the nomination vote this fall.
The federal election is next June.
- with files from AM800's Rob Hindi