A Leamington lawyer who has run federally in a neighboring riding will represent the provincial Liberals in Chatham-Kent-Leamington in the June 2 election.
Audrey Festeryga was announced as the party’s new candidate shortly before the nomination deadline on May 12. The Liberals removed Alec Mazurek from the ballot earlier that day for multiple uses of an anti-gay slur when he was a 15-year-old boy.
Festeryga ran for the federal Liberals in the Essex riding in 2015, 2019 and 2021, placing third each time.
She established Festeryga Partners with her husband, Peter, in 2008 as a litigation practice where she is managing partner. The firm has four full-time staff and one part-time employee with full benefits.
Festeryga was born and raised in Essex County. Her parents fled to Canada from Germany with their families during the Second World War. They were sponsored by the Mennonite church, but began their life with debts for their travels over.
Her father first ran a painting and decorating business and her mother as a payroll clerk at the Heinz plant in Leamington.
When she was five, Festeryga’s parents bought a 75-acre farm in Wheatley, and the family grew and sold several cash crops. The farm is still in operation today.
Festeryga is a member of the Law Society of Upper Canada. She has two children, Ted and Katherine, with her husband.
Festeryga was the final candidate announced for Chatham-Kent-Leamington. Other candidates include Trevor Jones with the Progressive Conservatives, Rhona Jubenville with the New Blue Party, Brock McGregor with the NDP, Rick Nicholls with the Ontario Party and Jennifer Surerus with the Green Party.
The Liberals placed third in the riding in 2018 behind the Progressive Conservatives and NDP.
