Enwin Utilities vice-president Michael Duben announced on Friday he is withdrawing as a candidate for the Liberal nomination for the riding of Windsor-Tecumseh.
Duben, 45, cited a serious family health matter as to the reason he was withdrawing from the race.
“Sometimes when you make these decision you feel a sense of relief,” he said. “I don’t feel any relief at all. I wanted to do this. But people who know me understand my family is by my side in whatever I do.
“It is a serious family health matter, it’s not a hangnail. I didn’t want to be in a situation where if I won the nomination while out campaigning I would feel I should be at my family member’s side. It would not be fair to my family or the party.”
He did not want to get into specifics of the health matter citing privacy and indicating much of his extended family was not yet informed.
There’s no date set for a provincial byelection in the riding to replace long-time Liberal MPP Dwight Duncan who stepped down in February. The Liberals are scheduled to choose their candidate at a nomination meeting set for next Thursday at the Serbian Centre starting at 6 p.m.
The two remaining candidates are Remy Boulbol and Jeewan Gill. The deadline has passed for anyone further to enter the race.
Local Liberals are disappointed Duben has had to leave the race, but remain confident in the two remaining candidates, said Barry Fowler, former provincial vice-president for the Liberal party.
“I think Michael would have been an outstanding candidate,” he said. “I don’t think this is the last we have heard of Michael Duben.
“We still have two strong, viable candidates. Remy and Jeewan have a lot of enthusiasm and are reflective of the multi-cultural riding they represent.”
Fowler was unconcerned the two don’t carry much name recognition.
“I don’t think Teresa Piruzza (L- Windsor-West) was a household name,” he said. “Now she is a cabinet minister and doing a fine job representing the area.”
Premier Kathleen Wynne has until August to make the call on when a byelection will be held, Fowler said.
“We are not sure if she will have a summer byelection (in late August) by calling it at the last moment with a couple of weeks notice or wait until September when summer is over and more people will be engaged,” he said.
Prior to overseeing customer relations at Enwin, Duben worked at the City of Windsor where he held a variety of management roles. He was in private practice as a lawyer for 10 years previous to that.
Duben is a married father of two children – a 21-year-old daughter and 14-year-old son.
He has held a variety of community roles – many connected to the Rotary Club of which he has been a member since 1996. He served as district governor for the area in 2011-2012.
Duben is also vice-chairman of Leadership Windsor Essex, while previously serving as chairman of the City Centre Business Association, board member on the College of Respiratory Therapists of Ontario, Art Gallery of Windsor and the North American Black Historical Museum and Cultural Centre.
Duben despite withdrawing from the race to replace Duncan indicated he remains interested in entering politics.
“I want to thank everyone for their support,” he said. “I know this will be disappointing to a few people, but sometimes these situations come up and family comes first.
“This does not mean an end to my political aspirations. It’s been a learning experience. I really didn’t understand the internal process, but now I do. I believe people are looking for leadership. There is a need for the type of strong life and work experience that I have.”
More to come…
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