Photo: The Canadian Press

Former Ontario Liberal leader Steven Del Duca says he is running for Vaughan mayor in the October municipal election.

Former Ontario Liberal leader Steven Del Duca said Tuesday he has entered the race for Vaughan mayor in the October municipal election.

In a news release, he said his campaign will focus on stemming traffic gridlock in the city that he has called home for 35 years.

“Vaughan has experienced explosive population growth over the years and it’s been hard for our transportation network to keep up,” he said. “The result is obvious and brutal – more of our residents are stuck in traffic every single day – wasting their precious time, while both our economy and our environment suffer."

Del Duca, who was named Liberal leader in 2020, resigned in June after the Liberals won just eight seats in the provincial election, failing to secure official party status for the second consecutive time. Del Duca was also unable to win his own riding of Vaughan-Woodbridge.

On Tuesday, he said he had taken time to reflect on his future since then.

“Over the past two months, I have reflected a great deal on my personal future and have taken the time to consider how best to continue to serve the community that I love,” he said.

“I believe passionately in public service and I feel that I have a responsibility to give back. I am running for mayor and humbly asking for support to continue providing Vaughan residents with stable, thoughtful and progressive leadership at city hall.”

Del Duca previously served as the province's transportation minister and economic development minister.

Ontario's municipal elections are set to be held on October 24.

Former NDP leader Andrea Horwath announced last month she would be running for mayor of Hamilton.

Horwath also stepped down after the June provincial election despite her party returning to official opposition status for a second straight term in the legislature. She led the NDP for 13 years.