Ahead of Sault Ste. Marie’s provincial by-election scheduled for next week, CTV is profiling the four major party candidates.
Up next is Progressive Conservative candidate Ross Romano.
Romano said he has known for a long time that he was going to serve his community.
“Quite literally, I was 14-years-old and I had this feeling in me of despair of fear over the concern of the future of our city,” said Romano.
“At that time, Algoma Steel was going through a restructuring."
Now, decades later, the steel plant is back in trouble and the husband and father of three little boys said he is worried for the future of his sons and everyone else in the city.
So, he decided to run, after watching his good friend Patrick Brown become leader of the Progressive Conservatives.
“My wife looked at me when Patrick Brown won and she said ‘you know what this means, you have to run now’.”
Romano, a lawyer and a city councillor, is now running for a seat at Queen’s Park.
At 37, he is the youngest of the four major candidates
“We've knocked on every single door in Sault Ste. Marie,” said Romano.
“We are presently on our second walk through, half way done. I don't think there is anyone else that can say they've put that much level of commitment and energy into their campaign. "
Former long-time Sault MPP David Orazietti stepped down to spend more time with his family.
Romano said it's a sacrifice he is willing to make if it means he gets the chance to try to help the community, and he added he has the support of his family to try to do just that.
Continuing with CTV's by-election candidate preview, a story on the NDP's Joe Krmpotich will air on Thursday and Green Party candidate Kara Flannigan on Friday.
