Joe Cimino

Giuseppe "Joe" Cimino (born c. 1969) is a former politician in Ontario, Canada. He was a New Democratic member of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario from June to November 2014. He resigned five months after being elected due to health reasons. Prior to his provincial role he was a city councillor in the Greater Sudbury City Council from 2006 to 2014.

Joe Cimino
Ontario MPP
In office
June 20, 2014 – November 20, 2014
Preceded byRick Bartolucci
Succeeded byGlenn Thibeault
ConstituencySudbury
Sudbury Ward 1 Councillor
In office
2006–2014
Preceded byEldon Gainer
Gerry McIntaggart
Succeeded byGerry McIntaggart
Personal details
Born1969 (age 51–52)
Political partyNew Democrat
Spouse(s)Luisa
Children2
ResidenceSudbury, Ontario
Alma materLaurentian University
Nipissing University
ProfessionElementary school teacher, city councillor

Background

Cimino was born in Sudbury,[1] and holds bachelor's degrees in political science from Laurentian University and education from Nipissing University. He worked as an elementary school teacher.[2] Cimino and his wife Luisa live in Sudbury, Ontario with their two daughters.[3]

Politics

Cimino first ran for a seat on Greater Sudbury City Council in the 2000 municipal election, but was not elected; he ran a second time in the 2003 municipal election, and was again unsuccessful.[4] He was elected in the 2006 municipal election,[2] and served on council committees including the Greater Sudbury Housing Corporation board and the Greater Sudbury Public Library board.[2]

While sitting as a city councillor, he won the New Democratic Party nomination for Sudbury on October 6, 2013, over the party's 2011 election candidate Paul Loewenberg.[5] He took an unpaid leave of absence from his council seat once the 2014 provincial election was called.[6] During the election campaign, he garnered some press across Ontario for his purported physical resemblance to controversial Toronto mayor Rob Ford.[7]

On election day, he defeated Liberal candidate Andrew Olivier by 980 votes.[8][9]

He was the party's critic for transportation issues,[10] and had identified the continued freeway conversion of Highway 69, a project which had faced significant delays in recent years, as one of his key priorities.[10]

On November 20, 2014, five months after his election, Cimino announced his resignation from the legislature citing the strain of being an MPP on his personal health as well as on his family. In a press release, Cimino stated: "I have been asked several times in the past how I was able to balance my public obligations as a city councillor with my family life....Even though it was difficult to do, I was able to be there for my young children, wife and extended family while still serving my community with complete dedication. Unfortunately the pendulum has swung too far to one side in the last several months. Simply, for my personal health wellness, and more importantly the well being of my family I must resign my seat in the Provincial Legislature."[11][12] Following his resignation, he faced some controversy when it was revealed that he qualified for a $58,000 severance package, representing six months of an MPP's annual salary, but he announced that he would not accept the payout.[13]

Electoral record
2014 Ontario general election: Sudbury
Party Candidate Votes%±%
New DemocraticJoe Cimino14,24742.24+1.51
LiberalAndrew Olivier13,26739.34−3.03
Progressive ConservativePaula Peroni4,65313.80+0.23
GreenCasey J. Lalonde1,2113.59+0.91
LibertarianSteven Wilson2420.72 
IndependentJ. David Popescu1050.31+0.17
Total valid votes 33,725 100.00 +4.03
New Democratic gain from Liberal Swing +2.27
Source(s)
"General Election Results by District, 088 Sudbury". Elections Ontario. 2014. Retrieved June 13, 2014.

References
  1. "Campaign notes: Tales from the Trail". Toronto Star. May 14, 2014. p. A6.
  2. "NDP's Joe Cimino takes open Sudbury seat". Global News. June 12, 2014. p. A3.
  3. Dillman, Martha (July 20, 2011). "Finding 'balance'". Northern Life.
  4. "Kett returns to municipal politics". Sudbury Star. November 11, 2003. p. A3.
  5. "Cimino wins Sudbury NDP nomination". Sudbury Star. October 7, 2013. p. A3.
  6. "Sudbury city council to discuss Joe Cimino's possible leave". CBC News. April 29, 2014.
  7. "Campaign notes: Tales from the Trail". Toronto Star. May 14, 2014. p. A6.
  8. "General Election by District: Sudbury". Elections Ontario. June 12, 2014. Archived from the original on July 2, 2014. Retrieved August 11, 2014.
  9. "It's official: Cimino paints Sudbury riding orange". Northern Life. June 12, 2014.
  10. "Cimino vows to keep Liberals accountable". Northern Life. July 8, 2014.
  11. "NDP MPP Joe Cimino resigns seat: cites family, health issues". CBC News. November 20, 2014.
  12. "Rookie NDP MPP Joe Cimino quits less than 6 months after election". Toronto Star. November 20, 2014.
  13. "MPP Joe Cimino won’t take $58K severance payout". Toronto Star, December 5, 2014.
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