Fantino to run as Tory in federal byelection

Former OPP commissioner Julian Fantino will run for a seat in Parliament as a Conservative.

Fantino, who is also a former Toronto police chief,announced in Woodbridge on Tuesday that he will run for the Tories in a federal byelection in Vaughan, north of Toronto.

"It ishumbling indeed to participate in the democratic process that is in fact something cherished in this country," said Fantino,announcing hiscandidacy at Famee Furlane banquet hall at 7065 Islington Ave.

"And something that over some 40 years,I have worked hard to preserve, to protect and to uphold."

The seat was vacated in August by longtime Liberal MP Maurizio Bevilacqua, who quit to run for mayor of Vaughan. Bevilacqua represented the riding for 22 years and won several elections by wide margins, thoughhis lead tapered off in the 2008 race.

Fantino served as OPP commissioner from 2006 through July of this year. He was Toronto police chief from 2000 to 2005, and Ontario commissioner of emergency management from 2005 to 2006. He served as the police of chief of London, Ont.,from 1991 to 1998 and of York Region between 1998 and 2000.

The byelection is expected in early December.