The seat was formerly held by NDP David Christopherson who had stepped down to enter the City of Hamilton mayoral race.
[5] During the campaign, she faced New Democrat Roy Adams and Progressive Conservative, Doug Brown.
[10] She was passed over in the cabinet reshuffle of July 2005,[11] but in March 2006 was made parliamentary assistant to the Minister of Economic Development and Trade.
Marsales had been expected to seek re-election in the reapportioned riding of Hamilton Centre against NDP incumbent Andrea Horwath.
However, a story ran in the Toronto Star on July 12, 2007, indicating Marsales had instead decided to retire from provincial politics.