A former Member of Provincial Parliament (MPP) is looking to take a swing at municipal politics.
Rick Nicholls is running to be one of two Ward 8 Councillors on Chatham-Kent's (CK) next municipal council. If elected, he would represent residents in the southern part of Chatham.
Nicholls was the MPP for Chatham-Kent-Essex, later Chatham-Kent-Leamington, from 2011 to 2022. He decided not to run in the 2022 provincial election after being kicked out of the PC caucus for refusing to get vaccinated against COVID-19.
He told CK News Today he believes it's time for him to try to get back into the world of politics.
"By staying locally, I can contribute to the betterment of the entire municipality," said Nicholls.
If elected, Nicholls plans to work with the rest of council to get the municipality's spending under control.
"I have serious concerns about how it's being spent right now on what I would call shiny objects. Big project, big dollars, with very little return on investment," he added.
To him, the municipality should focus its spending on infrastructure improvements, especially in rural communities.
When asked why he believes people should vote for him, Nicholls explained he would be a new face on council who already has political experience.
"My experience, 11 years serving this community down at Queen's Park, has given me not just a voice but a stronger voice and the ability to speak up and ask the tough questions."
CK's election will be on October 26, 2026.
