David Popescu puts his name forward as a Sudbury independent candidate

David Popescu admits he got more signatures this time to be nominated as a candidate in the upcoming federal election than he received in votes in the last one.

Popescu, who runs as an independent candidate in most elections in the Sudbury area, has again put his name forward as a candidate for this federal election. He had to get 150 signatures to do so. In the 2015federal election, he received 82 votes.

"But I don't really concern myself with that," he said. "I try to speak the truth before God and his written word."

The 72-year-old has run in almost every municipal, provincial and federal election in Sudbury in the last 20 years.

The only elections he missed were when he was in prison for assault.

Popescu has also been charged with hate speech for what he says during election campaigns, including aconviction in 2008 for calling for homosexuals to be executed.

When he does meet with voters, he says he tells them he's running "to promote the principles of the bible in the debates."

He says he asks voters if they are Christian or have a bible.

"Even the ones that say no they're willing to sign to give you a chance for freedom of speech," he said.

"I think election time gives you the privilege to promote change that would otherwise be considered an intrusion."