City lawyer announces he'll run in Ward 10

A Sudbury lawyer who has been prominent in the local Finnish community is running for a seat on city council.

Hannu Piironen, who practised law in Sudbury for 12 years, announced Tuesday he plans to file his nomination papers Thursday morning at Tom Davies Square, the first day candidates can officially sign up to run in the October municipal vote.

He's running for the council seat in Ward 10, currently held by Frances Caldarelli, who hasn't yet publicly announced whether she'll run for re-election.

According to his news release, Piironen is a lifelong resident of Sudbury grew up in Minnow Lake and is married with two children. He's currently the chair of the Greater Sudbury Public Library Board.

“In 1991, Mr. Piironen was appointed by the government of Finland to be its Honorary Consul in Sudbury, a position he still holds,” said a release issued by Piironen on Tuesday.

Piironen has degrees in political science and law, the release said, and was awarded the Order of the Finnish Lion First Class in 2002 for his service to Finland.

He has volunteered on several boards and has been a member of the Sudbury Finnish Rest Home, a charter member and former president of the Sudbury Suomi Lions Club, treasurer of the Sudbury Native Housing Board, a director of Network North and member of North East Mental Health Restructuring Committee.

“Mr. Piironen’s broad interests and phenomenal memory have helped him compete very successfully in trivia contests at the provincial and national levels,” the release said. “His skill at recalling details will certainly be an asset during discussions at the council table.”