One of Windsor's most influential unions is backing a candidate for mayor — and it's not the guy seeking re-election.
Unifor Local 444 is throwing its support behind former Chamber of Commerce president Matt Marchand.
That's not very surprising considering former Local 444 head Dino Chiodo is part of Marchand's campaign committee.
As heard on CTV Windsor, current Local 444 president David Cassidy says the decision to endorse Marchand came from the local's executive committee.
He says Marchand was brought in by the local's executive committee to answer questions while admitting current mayor Drew Dilkens was not.
Cassidy says the support for Marchand comes from his body of work. "Two years prior to Kathleen Wynne bringing in the [increased] minimum wage, Matt Marchand put together the living wage with Adam Vasey and others and he had the volunteer sign-up program, that was one thing that he did you know?"
Cassidy says the local has issues with how mayor Drew Dilkens has handled certain issues, including the strike at Caesars Windsor.
"If I was the mayor of the City of Windsor and I had 2,200 employees off on strike, I would be calling somebody but, Drew said, 'Well he talks to Kevin Laforet quite a bit,'" he says.
Mayoral Candidate, Matt Marchand (L) and Windsor Mayor, Drew Dilkens (R)
Acting CEO of the Windsor Regional Chamber of Commerce Janice Forsyth says the group won't be endorsing any candidate as it likes to stay neutral in favour of offering candidates debates. "We go with what our members feel is most effective to them and gives them the most up to date information that they can get," says Forsyth.
Windsor and District Labour Council president Brian Hogan points to a couple of key issues his group will look to when choosing its candidate to endorse. "Transparency, outsourcing, cutting good jobs. In the county, 'Why did you allow our libraries to be closed for that long?'"
Ernie Lamont, Tom Hensel and Frank Dyck are also running for the mayor's chair in Windsor.
The municipal vote is set for October 22nd.