William Szabo Verzoc is looking to make some inroads and find his way to Queen’s Park via the independent route.
Verzoc, who has a Masters Degree in medical anthropology from Wayne State University, has spent much of his life in Essex County. He spent roughly 20 years in McGregor, time in Pointe-Aux-Roches and now resides in Kingsville. Dissatisfied with current representation and a desire to better represent those with disabilities – among other issues – Verzoc became the independent candidate in the Essex riding for the Feb. 27 provincial election.
Verzoc pursued a medical career and studied in Poland, but that was derailed after being diagnosed with Crohn’s Disease. That occurred during the COVID-19 pandemic and he returned to Canada once travel restrictions were lifted in April 2022.
Wanting to do something in the field he devoted so much time into, he went to work at St. Clair College where he was employed through 2023. He said he reached out to Anthony Leardi’s office, the MPP for Essex who is seeking re-election as the PC candidate, on various issues.
Those issues related to health care, tribunals he was part of, and requests for social services information. According to Verzoc, he was able to reach staff at first but found after a time voicemails were not returned.
“I was very disappointed with the quality of service I was receiving,” he said, adding he was able to get help through Windsor-Tecumseh MPP Andrew Dowie’s office for a period of time.
Efforts were also made to contact Premier Doug Ford and health minister Sylvia Jones to no avail.
“I thought to myself, this is not the way the government in the province should be behaving to people with disabilities.”
Knowing what people on ODSP experience, Verzoc believed something had to be done.
Having independent MPPs is important to get people thinking for themselves and representing the wishes of residents and not just the party they represent, he added.
“The party system is a failure,” he said.
Being more visible is what Verzoc said he would be.
“If I’m MPP, I’m going to be out in the community, pounding the pavement and answering messages,” he said. “I’m a very tenacious person. I’m willing to work with people. I’m a pragmatic, reasonable person.”
Verzoc believed the tariff issue is not as big as is being portrayed and said polling backs that up. Healthcare and jobs are more important.
“It’s not about Trump,” he said of the tariff threat.
Of Donald Trump, Verzoc said the playbook has been known for several years.
“He’s all about optics. It’s all about ego,” he said. “I believe in remaining calm and letting it simmer for a moment.”
Verzoc added negotiations need to come from the federal level and accused Ford of “trying to supplant a very weak Prime Minister.”
Other issues include getting more domestically trained students into medical school placements and focusing harder on scholastics. He believes the province should take on maintenance of the E.C. Row Expressway. More should be done to assist the homeless, he added, noting the number of homeless has increased since the pandemic and also with the current job market.
Increased funding for education should also happen, he believed.
“They haven’t kept up,” he said.
Education issues also include students with disabilities, with Verzoc adding students having to travel 45-60 minutes to get to school to get the programs they need has to change.
“I think it’s a serious disgrace and we need to improve on that.”
Verzoc added his main concerns are with disability rights, LGBTQ rights, and human rights.
“I think ultimately we need a government that respects that,” he said.
He also said he is a low-tax conservative but “everyone has to pay their fair share.”
Independent candidate running in Feb. 27 election
By Ron Giofu