John Rizzuti wants to turn Victoria into a vibrant community supported by quality jobs, growing economy and safe communities.
The Conservative candidate, running in the Victoria riding, is a retired school principal and business owner who has lived in Victoria for the last 47 years with his wife Marilynne, three children and six grandchildren.
“For me, it’s time to give back to the community and serve it some more,” Rizzuti said. “I care about Victoria. I want to make sure it gets the best it can and I want it to continue to be a vibrant city for all of us and anyone who wants to visit or settle here in the future.”
Rizzuti, 66, has worked in seven schools throughout the Victoria region during his more than 30-year-career. He started as a principal in 1983 and retired from Wishart Elementary in the Sooke School District in 2005. He also served as the president of the B.C. Principals’ and Vice-Principals’ Association and on municipal, private company and volunteer boards.
He has a masters in education from the University of Victoria.
If elected, Rizzuti said he hopes to sustain a strong economy, keep streets and communities safe, while also balancing economic and environmental responsibilities. He will also advocate for more support for housing.
Locally, his focus will be on finding ways to support tourism, the Inner Harbour, transportation, technology, and arts and culture in the city.
“Running schools, my job was to make sure that I ran the school in a responsible and fiscally responsible way that promoted the success of families and children and that I kept them safe and secure,” he said. “For me, what I’m doing right now is a much larger scale of that and that’s what inspires me, that’s what motivates me. I have a passion for this city and I want to see us be the best that we can be.”
This is Rizzuti’s first campaign for federal office, but ran unsuccessfully to a trustee for the Greater Victoria School District in November.
He was acclaimed in early March to represent the conservatives in the federal election.