Joe Cimino

Cimino was born in Sudbury,^[1] and holds bachelor's degrees in political science from Laurentian University and education from Nipissing University. He worked as an elementary school teacher.^[2] Cimino and his wife Luisa live in Sudbury, Ontario with their two daughters.^[3]

Cimino first ran for a seat on Greater Sudbury City Council in the 2000 municipal election, but was not elected; he ran a second time in the 2003 municipal election, and was again unsuccessful.^[4] He was elected in the 2006 municipal election,^[2] and served on council committees including the Greater Sudbury Housing Corporation board and the Greater Sudbury Public Library board.^[2]

While sitting as a city councillor, he won the New Democratic Party nomination for Sudbury on October 6, 2013, over the party's 2011 election candidate Paul Loewenberg.^[5] He took an unpaid leave of absence from his council seat once the 2014 provincial election was called.^[6] During the election campaign, he garnered some press across Ontario for his purported physical resemblance to controversial Toronto mayor Rob Ford.^[7]

On election day, he defeated Liberal candidate Andrew Olivier by 980 votes.^[8][9]

He was the party's critic for transportation issues,^[10] and had identified the continued freeway conversion of Highway 69, a project which had faced significant delays in recent years, as one of his key priorities.^[10]

On November 20, 2014, five months after his election, Cimino announced his resignation from the legislature citing the strain of being an MPP on his personal health as well as on his family. In a press release, Cimino stated: "I have been asked several times in the past how I was able to balance my public obligations as a city councillor with my family life....Even though it was difficult to do, I was able to be there for my young children, wife and extended family while still serving my community with complete dedication. Unfortunately the pendulum has swung too far to one side in the last several months. Simply, for my personal health wellness, and more importantly the well being of my family I must resign my seat in the Provincial Legislature."^[11][12] Following his resignation, he faced some controversy when it was revealed that he qualified for a $58,000 severance package, representing six months of an MPP's annual salary, but he announced that he would not accept the payout.^[13]