Journal Staff
Here are the candidates seeking to represent Sarnia-Lambton at Queen’s Park in the June 2 provincial election:
BOB BAILEY - CONSERVATIVE
Bailey, 71, is heading into his fifth consecutive election race in Sarnia-Lambton — he’s been representing the riding since 2007.
The Incumbent MPP was born and raised in Petrolia, worked at NOVA Chemicals for more than 30 years, and now spends time enjoying the grandchildren with wife Elizabeth, of 52 years. He currently serves as the Parliamentary Assistant to the Minister of Government and Consumer Services.
MARK RUSSELL - LIBERAL
Russell, 41, is an educator at Lambton College, teaching computer programming and business. His previous roles include Chair of the Sarnia-Lambton Chamber of Commerce Government Affairs Committee; President of the Sarnia Riding Club; small business owner and business analyst. He was born and raised in Sarnia, where he resides with his wife, and ran for Sarnia city council in 2014.
DYLAN STELPSTRA - NDP
Stelpstra, 33, was born and raised in Sarnia, where he lives with wife Shawna. Stelpstra has taken a leave of absence from his job as a children’s services worker at the Sarnia-Lambton Children’s Aid Society to focus on a first-time run at politics. He is active in his union — serving as local vice president for nearly a decade — and at his church, where he plays music.
MASON BOURDEAU – GREEN PARTY
Bourdeau, 21, from Woodstock, is currently a practical nursing student at Lambton College, where he is the student representative in the program. He also works as a Personal Support Worker (PSW) at Twin Lakes Terrace in Sarnia. This is his first run at politics.
KEITH BENN - NEW BLUE PARTY
Benn grew up in Wallaceburg, Ont. and holds a BSc from Western University, an MSc from University Laval in Quebec and a doctorate from the University de Montpellier in France. He spent 16 years working in the Department of Earth Sciences at the University of Ottawa, and currently works as an independent consultant in the minerals industry. He lives in Port Lambton. Benn was involved with the Conservative party before joining the New Blue Party, which was founded in 2020.
CARLA OLSON - PPO (POPULIST PARTY ONTARIO)
Carla Olson was born in Wallaceburg, and has worked as a small business owner, missionary, and most recently as a nurse. Olson, who is taking her first run at politics, describes herself as a “Canadian citizen who has had enough of undemocratic politics, unethical public health guidelines and a silent MPP.” She’s a wife of 23 years, a mom of three, grandmother of three, and currently resides in Camlachie.