Perry Missal Ward 27 candidate

Missal one of 14 running to replace outgoing Councillor Rae
Kris Scheuer
(Written July 28 for Town Crier.)

Local resident Perry Missal running in Ward 27. Photo courtesy of Perry Missal.

Ward 27 candidate Perry Missal wants regular inspections of public playgrounds, a Toronto lotto to generate revenue and increased pedestrian safety.
He’s launching an extensive platform on his yet-to-be released website, www.perrymissal.ca, in mid-August.
“I want to look at a City of Toronto lottery managed by the (Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corp). It’s not a tax but a user pay. People from Markham or Mississauga could buy the Toronto lotto as well,” said the 43-year-old. “We could target (lotto funds) for specific projects such as subways and the rest could go to general revenues.”
Another key issue is posting when public playgrounds were last inspected.

Advertisement

Robert Meynell ward 27 candidate

Meynell running in crowded Toronto Centre-Rosedale race
Author, lecturer, volunteer running for council seat
By Kris Scheuer
(Written for Town Crier April 28.)

Toronto-Centre Rosedale candidate Robert Meynell. Photo courtesy of Robert Meynell.

North Rosedale resident Robert Meynell thinks Ward 27 is a great place to live and is running for council to ensure it stays that way.
“I love the ward. I grew up here. I have a house here and am raising a family here. With (Councillor) Kyle Rae stepping down, this was a good
opportunity,” said father of three boys.
“It’s an extraordinary place to live,” said Meynell, who works as the government relations associate for the Ontario March of Dimes.
He’s a cyclist and when he was living in Ottawa he served as a director of Citizens for Safe Cycling. But he questions the decision to put bike lanes on Jarvis Street as part of that revitalization.
Bike lanes on Jarvis are not part of the city’s 1999 Bike Plan that’s only 40 percent completed, he said.
“According to that plan … a bike path on Bay is a far greater priority than one on Jarvis in the interests of having a successful bike network,” he said. “Was there an honest need for bike lanes on Jarvis? I don’t think there was because there’s bike lanes on Sherbourne. Or are they using bike lanes as a way to quiet streets?”

Evan Dean ward 27 candidate

Dean brings provincial policy work to candidacy
Local resident running in Toronto-Centre Rosedale
By Kris Scheuer
(Written for Town Crier April 28)

Ward 27 city council candidate Evan Dean. Photo by Kris Scheuer/Town Crier.

Evan Dean is running for public office for first time, but the Ward 27 candidate already has a long history of government work.
He currently works in the provincial attorney general’s office ensuring funds are available for victims of crime. He’s also worked for Ontario’s ministry of health and long term care and on government-based literacy programs.
“I grew up in politics,” said Dean whose mother Linda is Chief Administrative Officer for the County of Dufferin. “The vast majority of my career has been in Ontario government and my interest lies in local politics.”
The ward resident is one of 13 candidates running in Toronto-Centre Rosedale to replace outgoing Councillor Kyle Rae.
“With Kyle stepping down, I thought this was a good opportunity,” said the 32-year-old.

One Bloor new development

Condo tower breathes new life into intersection
Great Gulf’s 65-storey building at Yonge and Bloor
By Kris Scheuer
(Written April 1 for Town Crier)

New condo tower to be built at One Bloor East. Courtesy of Great Gulf Group.

One Bloor will rise again.
Great Gulf Group of Companies is building a 65-storey condo and retail project on the southeast corner of Yonge and Bloor streets on the same spot of the now defunct, much-hyped 80-storey tower by Bazis International.
All previous condo buyers got their money back from Bazis and will receive first dibs on the new condo project.
Corrado Di Rosa who bought into the previous project was happy to re-invest in Great Gulf’s condo tower.
“I’m on the 34th floor,” Di Rosa said March 31 a few days after purchasing.
He is confident this project will move forward.
“Because it was Great Gulf and I’m in the industry, I wasn’t hesitant (to buy) at all. I know their reputation,” said Di Rosa.

Election races with no incumbent

Toronto election to produce shake-up
Some wards feature no incumbent as councillors retire
(Column written March 31 for Town Crier.)

We are guaranteed new political faces at city hall.
Here’s a sampling of the changes, why it will make these election races exciting and should increase voter turn out but may make it hard for constituents to choose new reps.
In midtown, councillors Kyle Rae and Michael Walker are retiring and in the east end Case Ootes is doing the same. Councillors Joe Pantalone, Rob Ford and Giorgio Mammoliti are running for mayor rather than re-election in their wards. As of April 1, a total of 36 candidates are registered in these six races with no incumbent councillors.
But the absence of incumbents, doesn’t mean newcomers will have an easier time getting elected. In fact, they may have to fight just as hard.
Toronto Centre Rosedale Councillor Rae’s Ward 27 is a prime example. His name won’t be on the ballot, but 12 candidates have registered here so far to try and replace him.
Name recognition can still be a factor in races with no incumbent, says University of Toronto political science professor Larry LeDuc.

Ken Chan Ward 27 candidate

Former cop and policy advisor seeks political office
Chan running for downtown city council seat
By Kris Scheuer
(Written March 31 for Town Crier.)

Candidate Ken Chan is running in ward 27. Photo courtesy of Ken Chan.

Ken Chan is running in the most crowded council race in the city.
He’s one of a 13 candidates competing in Toronto Centre Rosedale’s Ward 27 where current rep Kyle Rae has announced his retirement.
“We need people who aren’t career politicians,” said Chan a former Peel Region police officer. “We need people with experience in business, public service and community activists.”
Chan served as an officer from 1999-2003 while living in Ward 27 and commuting.
“One of the key factors for police officers is the ability to build bridges,” said the 34-year-old. “I’ve dealt with aggressive pan handlers and neighbourhood disputes.”
He’s spent time in the police homicide and drug departments.
Chan was also an advisor to mayoral candidate George Smitherman when he was minister of health.

Tindal, Dick, Gapka run in Ward 27

Council hopefuls Chris Tindal, Joel Dick, Susan Gapka
Ten people running in city election to fill Coun.Rae’s shoes
By Kris Scheuer
(Written Feb. 26 for Town Crier)

The race to replace outgoing city councillor Kyle Rae is the busiest in the city.
With no incumbent, Toronto Centre-Rosedale Ward 27 has attracted 10 registered candidates so far. Here are mini-profiles of three of the people running in this ward: Joel Dick, Chris Tindal and Susan Gapka.

Joel Dick, ward 27 candidate.

Candidate Joel Dick says living in the ward for over a decade has helped him gain knowledge about local concerns.
“It’s a remarkably diverse ward,” says the litigation lawyer, who volunteers as a referee with youth hockey.
One issue that needs attention is bringing more economic development business opportunities to the George Street between Carlton Street and Queen Street East, he said.
He also favours the plan to redevelop Jarvis Street by reducing it from five traffic lanes to four in order to accommodate bike lanes.
“I hope to move the discussion beyond the bike versus the car,” said Dick, who has done casework for a student run legal clinic as well as pro bono work for the Child Advocacy Project.

Toronto election races to watch

These are the hot races to watch in this city
Election offers plenty of sparks, sparring
By Kris Scheuer
(Updated and expanded Oct. 25)

 

Councillor Case Ootes isn't seeking re-election and the race to replace him in ward 29 is a hotly contested one.

 

There are some exciting races in the Toronto election. Here are my 18 reasons to pay attention. What do you think, am I missing any races?
1. Mayor David Miller is not seeking a third term, but *40 candidates have made their bid to replace him. *Sarah Thomson withdrew but is still on the ballot. Find out who is running, here. Who will you choose?
2. Councillor Adam Giambrone Davenport Ward 18 was running for mayor but now he’s not. He’s also not seeking re-election locally. This race has attracted 12 candidates: Twelve candidates are running: Coun. Giambrone’s Executive Assistant Kevin Beaulieu, Doug Carroll, Nha Le, Joe MacDonald, Mohammad Muhit, Kirk Russell, Joanna Teliatnik, Hema Vyas, Ana Bailao, Ken Wood, Abdirazak Elmi and former Green Party of Ontario leader Frank de Jong.
3. Councillor Joe Pantalone Trinity-Spadina Ward 19 is running for mayor. His seat is up for grabs and 9 people are running: David Footman,  NDP leader Jack Layton’s son Mike Layton an urban planner and environmentalist, Jim Likourezos, sportscaster Sean McCormick, journalist Karlene Nation, George Sawision,  Jason Stevens, community activist, planner and environmentalist Karen Sun and Rosario Bruto.
4. Councillor Anthony Perruzza for York Centre Ward 8 is seeking re-election. This should be a real tough fight between former local rep Peter Li Preti who represented the ward but lost by 579 votes to Perruzza in ’06. Li Preti has signed up for a rematch. Plus six other candidates: John Gallagher, Naseeb Husain, Antonius Clarke, Gerardo Miniguano, Arthur Smitherman (George Smitherman’s brother) and Ramnarine Tiwari are also running here.

Toronto councillors 2010 election

The election campaign already heating up
Who is retiring, running, playing coy in TO election
By Kris Scheuer
(Updated Oct.25- Election Day.)

 

Joe Mihevc is one of the incumbent councillors seeking re-election.

 

One thing is certain in life – that’s change. And we can count on that in this city’s election. The vote is Oct. 25.
Of the 44 incumbent city councillors so far 35 current Toronto politicians have signed up for re-election in their own ward. Of the remaining 9 incumbents: 2 are running for mayor instead and 7 aren’t running at all. Want to see for yourself?
Check the city’s election website that shows all 477 candidates running for mayor, councillor and school trustee positions.
Here’s the scope on where all the candidates stand as of Sept. 10 the final nomination day.
Mayor David Miller is not running for re-election. There are 40 candidates registered to run for mayor.
Council races – there are 279 candidates running for 44 council seats
Ron Moeser (Scarborough East Ward 44) has registered and so have three others: Diana Hall, Heath Thomas and Mohammed Mirza.
Paul Ainslie (Scarborough East Ward 43) is running again and has four challengers: John Laforet, Benjamin Mbaegbu, Bhaskar Sharma and Samuel Getachew.

Candidates for Toronto Election 2010

First day to register and dozens sign up early
Some incumbents back again and challengers line up
By Kris Scheuer
(See update here.)

Today, Toronto’s municipal election race officially started with candidates filing nomination papers at city hall.
FAMILIAR FACES
So far, some incumbents have made it clear they want to be re-elected including: councillors Janet Davis (Ward 31), Glenn De Baeremaeker (Ward 38), Mike Del Grande (Ward 39), Paula Fletcher (Ward 30), Adrian Heaps (Ward 35) Norm Kelly (Ward 40), Joe Mihevc (Ward 21), John Parker (Ward 26), Gord Perks (Ward 14), Bill Saundercook (Ward 13), Cesar Palacio (Ward 17) and so far none of them have any challengers.
HOT RACES