Jo-Anne Gignac officially Conservative candidate in Windsor-Tecumseh

It's official, Windsor city councillor Jo-Anne Gignac will be the Conservative candidate for Windsor-Tecumseh in the upcoming federal election.

Gignac received the nomination last night, less than two weeks after announcing her campaign.

The Ward 5 councillor says winning as a Conservative will be tough, especially in a riding that's been dominated by Liberals and New Democrats.

"I think it's going to take a lot of hard work and I'm prepared to do that," she said. "People ... are stepping up and offering their help, too.

"I know it's going to be hard work but I think the message is clear to the people of Windsor-Tecumseh; we need a voice at that federal level."

She has the support of Windsor's current mayor, Drew Dilkens, and former mayor, Eddie Francis.

"I really think it's time we have a voice at the table and the city be well represented. And I think if anyone can do it, it's Jo-Anne," Dilkens said. "I don't live in this riding, but if I did live in this riding I would vote for Jo-Anne."

Gignac will be busy again tonight.

She'll be attending Stephen Harper's roundtable dicussion at the Waterfront Hotel.

Gignac is a lifelong resident of the Riverside area. She was first elected to council in 2003, representing Ward 5.

She says her priorities on council are to attract investment in Windsor to create jobs and to reduce costs and taxes.

When she announced her candidacy, Gignac said the Tories were "the right fit" for her and the the party "where I could do the most for my community."

The Conservatives are the last of the Country's three mainstream parties to name a candidate in Windsor-Tecumseh.

The Liberals acclaimed Frank Schiller.

Former Tecumseh deputy mayor Cheryl Hardcastle won the NDP nomination earlier this year.

The Windsor-Tecumseh riding is open after long-time NDP MP Joe Comartin announced last June that he will not seek re-election this fall.