For decades, Tamara Stomp has been a familiar face in Kingsville and beyond, serving as a steadfast advocate both for her clients in the courtroom and for the community in council chambers and local organizations.
Now, the longtime lawyer and public servant is channeling her passion for governance into a new challenge—running as the Ontario Liberal candidate for Essex in the upcoming provincial election.
Stomp brings a wealth of experience to the political arena.
A high-conflict family law litigation lawyer for over 43 years, she has spent her career helping individuals navigate some of life’s most difficult moments.
Her work on the Law Society of Ontario’s governing board deepened her understanding of public accountability and governance, experience she carried into 11 years on Kingsville Town Council, 4 of which she served as Deputy Mayor and on Essex County Council.
Beyond politics and law, Stomp has been a fixture in numerous community initiatives. From her involvement in the Kingsville Military Museum to the Friends of John R. Park Homestead, she has demonstrated a commitment to preserving local heritage and strengthening civic engagement.
While Stomp has always been engaged in public life, her decision to run for provincial office was crystallized by an unexpected moment on the road.
“I was driving down the 401 and pulled into an ONRoute station, only to be met on the ramp by a big neon sign telling me to ‘BUY BEER HERE,’” Stomp recalls.
“Who offers drivers alcohol as refreshment for a long-distance drive on a high-speed highway with big trucks and little children in cars? Those are not my values and likely not the values of others, so an alternative is needed.”
This moment, she says, symbolized the broader concerns she has with the current provincial government—one she believes has prioritized backroom deals and corporate interests over the well-being of everyday Ontarians.
For Stomp, the past seven years under Premier Doug Ford have seen worsening conditions across key government portfolios, from housing, to healthcare, affordability and education. She sees the Ontario Liberal Party, under leader Bonnie Crombie, as offering a better path forward—one that prioritizes housing, affordability, education, and healthcare.
“Bonnie understands,” Stomp says. “She could see the problem started right off when Ford called it his More Homes Built Faster Act. Bonnie’s plan is to build More Homes You Can Afford. The key word is ‘affordable.’”
Education and healthcare are also high on her priority list. Stomp has firsthand experience with the difficulties of accessing a family doctor and believes that no Ontarian should have to go through the same.
“If you don’t have your health, you can’t get the other things you need in life,” she says. “Facing our healthcare crisis will take hard work and stamina, and I’m ready for the challenge.”
Kingsville has always been at the heart of Stomp’s work, and that remains true in her bid for provincial office. Whether advocating for sustainable development, better public services, or ensuring small towns have a strong voice at Queen’s Park, she is committed to fighting for the people of Essex County.
“I love this community,” she says. “I’ve spent my career standing up for people who needed someone in their corner, and that’s exactly what I’ll continue to do.”
For more information about Tamara, you can visit her website at tamarastomp.ontarioliberal.ca, email her at votetamarastomp@gmail.com, or call her campaign at 519-919-8104.