Essex riding snapshot: Divergent views on improving the economy

This is the third of three riding snapshots CBC Windsor is posting online this week. On Tuesday, we looked at Windsor West. On Wednesday we looked at Windsor-Tecumseh. Today, we look at the riding of Essex.

The candidates looking to capture the parliamentary seat in the riding of Essex are generally in agreement that jobs and the economy are top issues of importance for voters.

But they have sharply contrasting views on what needs to be done and how the most recent federal government has managed the economy.

• Head here to see what happened in Essex last election

Jeff Watson, the Conservative candidate and incumbent in Essex, says that voters should look to his party to keep the economy on track.

"We have not only a good record, but of course, we're proposing to do more, keep the taxes low, sign trade agreements, make sure that we have the proper strategic investments in manufacturing and other sectors,"he told CBC News in an interview.

The Liberal and New Democrat candidates, however, say that voters are seeking change in this election and are looking for a government that will head in a different direction than what the Conservatives have done to date.

"After 10 years of Stephen Harper, people are ready to replace the politics of fear with hope and optimism and that's what our party represents,"said Tracey Ramsey, an autoworker who is the New Democrat candidate in the riding.

"So, in this particular riding, Tom Mulcair is the one that they're looking to be their next prime minister."

Ramsey said the New Democrats would bring forward a manufacturing strategy that would pay dividends for places like Essex.

"We need someone who is going to be advocating for our communities that have manufacturing facilities [that] have left,"said Ramsey. "When we look at Amherstburg in particular, there are several facilities that are sitting there unused, underutilised and I feel that the government at a federal level has a role to play.

Audrey Festeryga, the Liberal candidate in Essex, also says that the voters in this rural riding want change.

"It'stime to put the spotlight back on Essex and have our voice heard in Ottawa,"said Festeryga, a lawyer from a farming family who proudly boasts of her ability to drive a tractor.

She is touting the Liberals'planned infrastructure investments, which Festeryga said would help create jobs in the region.

"It will get people to work right away,"Festeryga said, noting that any infrastructure projects would also have the benefit of improving quality of life for residents.

Other candidates pursuing a bid for the Essex seat include Enver Villamizar for the Marxist-Leninists and Jennifer Alderson for the Green Party.

The boundaries of the Essex riding have changed slightly, with a few thousand voters now being part of a Chatham riding.

• On mobile? Click here for a graphic examining the Essex riding

According to the Elections Canada website, the Essex riding includes LaSalle, Amherstburg, Kingsville and Essex. It also includes a portion of the town of Lakeshore.

Voters in Essex will learn on Oct. 19 if the people in their ridinghave sought change, as all newcomer candidates are hoping, or if they have thrown continued support to Watson, the long-time incumbent.