Windsor councillor Jo-Anne Gignac announced Wednesday she will be seeking the Conservative nomination in the riding of Windsor-Tecumseh for the next federal election.

“People have had the opportunity to watch me, over the several years, and I'm pretty consistent,” she said from her Riverside home Wednesday morning. “That's how I plan on approaching this, going to them at the door and saying this is our opportunity to get a voice in Ottawa."

Gignac has served on Windsor City Council since 2003. She also sat on the Windsor Essex Catholic District School Board from 1988 to 2000.

Gignac says she’s been approached by political parties of all stripes in the past, but this time, she approached the Conservatives.

“Families, controlling taxes, being secure: Those are all cornerstones of the Conservative Party and it just seemed a perfect fit for me," says says.

Former Mayor Eddie Francis was on hand today to lend his support to Gignac.

“I’m a Jo-Anne Gignac supporter,” he told reporters. “She will be a very significant individual in Ottawa at the table advocating for the benefit of this region."

Both the Liberals and New Democrats have already chosen their respective candidates. The Liberals acclaimed Frank Schiller on Monday and Cheryl Hardcastle was picked among four candidates vying for the NDP nomination.

The sucessful candidates will look to replace retiring NDP MP Joe Comartin. He has held the riding since 2000.

“As soon as Joe Comartin said he was stepping down, this became a seat anyone could take," says political analyst Cheryl Collier. “It's not really about the party, it's about the person. When you have a long-standing person who steps down, it opens things up."

Conservative Essex MP Jeff Watson welcomes Gignac’s foray into federal politics.

"Ms. Gignac's interest in becoming a Conservative candidate demonstrates that Prime Minister Harper - a serious leader for serious times - is attracting competent, highly qualified Canadians across the country as candidates," says Watson. "Ms. Gignac brings a strong record of public service, of keeping taxes low for families, and leadership to the nomination process."

To date, Gignac is the only nominee to step forward for the Conservative Party in Windsor-Tecumseh. Nominations are still being accepted. If nominated, Gignac says she will remain on council under the result of the federal election is known.