Sandra Pupatello has officially announced she is seeking the federal Liberal nomination in Windsor West.
The former MPP for Windsor West made the announcement on Friday at the Fogolar Furlan Club in Windsor.
Pupatello was the Liberal MPP in the riding from 1995 until 2011, when she did not seek re-election. The 56-year-old held several cabinet positions, including the Minister of Economic Development and Trade from 2009 - 2011.
She ran for the Ontario Liberal Party leadership in 2013 but lost to Kathleen Wynne, and she says it's time to get back in the game.
"Eight years in the private sector and I felt the call, it just dragged me back in because it's hard to stay on the sidelines when I actually think that there is something I can contribute and do for Windsor West as a representative," she added.
Pupatello's announcement comes on the heels of a report ruling Prime Minister Justin Trudeau violated the Conflict of Interest Act — that was for improperly pressuring former attorney general Jody Wilson-Raybould to stop the criminal prosecution of SNC Lavalin.
She sat down with Trudeau before making her decision and is confident the scandal won't affect the Liberal's chances in Windsor-West.
"I wanted to know we were going to gel and what I see is exactly what I'm going to get into. He was very gracious with his time with me," says Pupatello. "We talked about jobs; we talked about the economy, the things that are important to me. That had a lot to do with me deciding to run."
Pupatello will be going head-to-head with New Democrat Brian Masse, who's held his seat in Windsor West since 2002.
She says Masse's never had a challenger with name recognition.
"Rubber's hitting the road man, I've got a crowd that wants me to take him out and that's what I have to do," she says. "I like Brian and I worked with him because he was the federal member while I was a provincial member for 10-years, so we had to work together but this is a whole new ballgame."
Melinda Munro and Hsiao D'ailly are also seeking the Liberal nomination in Windsor West.
If Pupatello wins the nomination, she would be up against incumbent Masse, Henry Lau of the Conservatives, and Darryl Burrell of the People's Party of Canada.
The federal election will be held Oct. 21.