Transpo minister drives support to Woodbridge East municipal candidate

YorkRegion.com
Oct. 2, 2014
By Kim Champion

For rookie political-hopeful Lorenzo Catuzza, celebrity endorsements don’t come much better than this.

The 38-year-old former political strategist recently campaigned with Vaughan Liberal MPP and Transportation Minister Steven Del Duca.

Del Duca earned one of the largest pluralities in the June 12 provincial election, beating his nearest opponent, PC Peter Meffe, by about 17,000 votes. Del Duca garnered nearly 56 per cent of the vote. Since then, he’s received a promotion to one of the most powerful positions in a majority government cabinet.

Catuzza, an East Woodbridge Ward 3 candidate who isn’t shy about his Liberal bona fides - he was an aide to former Vaughan Liberal MPP and provincial finance minister Greg Sorbara - says he was happy to have Del Duca by his side as he knocked on doors one weekend.

“Any time someone who is as successful and who has done as good a job as Steven can lend their endorsement and support, that’s helpful to the campaign,” said Catuzza.

The candidate said Del Duca has campaigned with him on the weekend when schedules have permitted.

"He’s a busy man. He’s given me his endorsement and his advice in terms of our own friendship and I appreciate his support,” Catuzza said.

Del Duca said Catuzza asked him for his support “way back at the beginning when he first launched his campaign” and he said he was happy to provide it.

Del Duca also noted that he’s endorsing Maple/Kleinburg Ward 1 incumbent Marilyn Iafrate and West Woodbridge Ward 2 incumbent Tony Carella in this municipal election campaign.

Catuzza said he has also been endorsed by Sorbara, Shernett Martin of the Vaughan African Canadian Association and Asif Khan of Run For Vaughan.

The Citizen could not immediately reach Woodbridge East incumbent Rosanna DeFrancesca for comment.