Candidate: Moe Comuzzi-Stehmann

Moe Comuzzi-Stehmann is looking to add to her family’s political dynasty in Thunder Bay.
 
As the niece of Joe Comuzzi, the longtime Liberal MP who crossed the floor in 2007 to sit with the Conservatives, Comuzzi-Stehmann has looked up to him all her life.
 
“He’s my mentor. Joe Comuzzi did great things for his community and he was a true man to his word and looked after the constituents in his riding. I am proud to be his niece,” said Comuzzi-Stehmann, the first-time Conservative candidate in Thunder Bay-Rainy River.
 
Her husband, Tony Stehmann ran provincially for the Conservatives in 1990 and federally in 1994.

Staunchly opposed to the idea of a coalition, Comuzzi-Stehmann said she’s running to give Thunder Bay a seat at the government table.

“Our government has a proven leader in Stephen Harper and we want to continue on with the economic action plan and get into phase 2 of the budget and start taking Thunder Bay-Rainy River into the direction that it needs to go into.”
 
That direction starts with small businesses, job creation and selling a lifestyle, said Comuzzi-Stehmann, who was the owner of the local East Side Mario’s franchise and also ran Pilot Food Services during her lengthy career, which also includes several stints at car dealerships both in Thunder Bay and Ottawa.

Harper, in need of every seat he can wrangle away from the opposition to capture his elusive majority, stopped in Thunder Bay last Monday, a sure sign he thinks the Conservatives are poised for a breakthrough in the city’s two ridings.

With the exception of Comuzzi’s defection from the Liberals four years ago, the seats have been in the hands of the NDP and Liberals for decades.
 
Comuzzi-Stehmann said it’s time for a change.

“It’s been 83 years. My mother is 83 years old. It’s time. We’ve been experiencing the same thing over and over. We continually vote for the same thing over and over. Our government has a proven track record,” said Comuzzi-Stehmann, who has a bachelor of arts in political science from Lakehead University.

“We’re weathering out of the worst economic recession since the Second World War. We need a stable, steady hand, and that’s what Stephen Harper and the Conservative government bring. And it’s our turn. He’s proven that Thunder Bay-Rainy River and Superior-North are on his radar.”

Comuzzi-Stehmann believes FedNor is fine the way it is, under the Industry ministry’s umbrella, and unlike her counterparts, doesn’t think it needs to be a standalone agency with its own minister.

The election is on Monday.