Anthony Rota wants the Nipissing-Timiskaming federal Liberal nomination so badly he announced his run at it in three languages.
Rota, an administrator at the National Research Council of Canada's North Bay office, made public Thursday what has been known for several weeks: that he wants to succeed Bob Wood and become the riding's next MP.
And the multilingual Rota, 42, got the message across in English, French and Italian.
He joins Susan Church in the nomination race, and has chosen ‘Determined to Deliver’ as his campaign slogan.
Whatever it takes But deliver what? ”Whatever this riding needs to get it going. It’s a wide statement but what we’re looking at is getting everything functioning and going well,” said Rota, 42.
“This riding has been well managed, and it’s just a matter of expanding on what’s been done in the past. And whatever it takes to get things done, I’ll do it.”
Rota knows why he’s running, but said anybody who gives a rational explanation “isn’t running for the right reason.”
“The thrill that comes from making a difference is beyond description. It’s hard to explain, but basically it comes down to when something gets done and you know you had a hand in it and you were able to make a difference, to me that means everything,” Rota said.
Like the Grey Cup Politics has intrigued Rota his entire life, and he credits his late father Sam for instilling him with the desire to become involved.
“Actually my father and I used to follow political life quite closely and we used to watch leadership conventions and it was like the Grey Cup for us,” Rota said.
“So we’d watch that together and I think that’s spurred my interest in politics so early in life.”
Sam Rota also taught his son to have a social conscience,” Rota said.
“It’s a matter of taking care, of not thinking life’s a ruthless business where you wipe out everyone,” Rota said.
“We all have to progress together and it’s a matter of everyone progressing not just one small group going ahead. We have to make sure the more vulnerable in society aren’t trampled and they have a chance at a good life as well.”
Good contacts Rota, who served as a North Bay city councillor between 1994 and 1997, said he brings to the table experience in business and government at the municipal and federal levels, and good contacts locally and in Ottawa.
“And also my background in the international field is really going to help because one of the things I want to do for this riding is promote it internationally.”
But domestically, though, Rota said he would make sure constituents in the Northern part of the new riding are taken care of.
“We have to make sure they don’t get disenfranchised, and that’s only going to happen if we have a presence up there,” Rota said.
