Willowdale MPP David Zimmer seeks re-election

Tories set sights on Willowdale riding
But Liberal Zimmer vows to defend his seat
Kris Scheuer
(Written for Town Crier March 3)

Liberal MPP David Zimmer seeks a third term in Willowdale. Photo courtesy of David Zimmer.

Liberal MPP David Zimmer knows the Progressive Conservatives have set their sights on Willowdale, but he’s ready to fight to keep his seat in the upcoming provincial election.
He first came to power in 2003 beating then PC incumbent David Young.
“All the pundits, polls, newspapers and blogs in 2003 (stated) the conventional wisdom was Conservatives would lose all seats in 416 except Willowdale,” recalls Zimmer.
The commentators were mostly correct as the PCs lost all their Toronto seats including Willowdale.
“David Young was a good candidate, a lawyer. I know him and we had a good campaign,” said Zimmer, also a lawyer by trade. “I won by 2,000 votes.”
Fast forward to the 2007 provincial race and then PC leader John Tory looked closely at running in Willowdale against Zimmer but settled on Don Valley West where he eventually lost to Kathleen Wynne. The PCs ran Willowdale Councillor David Shiner as a star candidate, but Zimmer held on, beating Shiner by almost 6,000 votes.
“This year the Tories are anxious to try and get Willowdale,” Zimmer said.

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Don Valley trustees re-elected

Michael Coteau and Gerri Gershon back at the school board
Kris Scheuer
(Written for Town Crier Oct. 29)

Trustees Michael Coteau and Gerri Gershon were re-elected.

Re-elected Don Valley East Trustee Michael Coteau says after knocking on 10,000 doors during the election campaign, he is re-energized to tackle tough issues at the school board.
“After seven years, you don’t realize how many people you have helped in the past.
You wonder if people are paying attention and you get to the door and get this sense of energy,” said Coteau, who was first elected in 2003.
Coteau won back his school board seat handily on election day, garnering just over 63 percent of the vote.

Councillor David Shiner seeks re-election

True to form, North York councillor waits until the end to register
Kris Scheuer
(Written for Town Crier Sept. 7)

Councillor David Shiner is the last incumbent to make his intentions known in the election.

He got in just under the wire, but Willowdale Councillor David Shiner is running for re-election.
Shiner signed up on Sept. 7, just days before the Sept. 10 deadline.
“I’ve been overwhelmed by the number of people asking me to remain on council,” he said in an interview today after he registered.
“It’s extremely important that there’s good representation with a history of the suburbs. A number of my colleagues with history have left,” said Shiner.
Howard Moscoe, Mike Feldman, Brian Ashton and Case Ootes are all retiring from city politics represent North York, Scarborough and East York.
Because of that turnover, Shiner said his experience will come in handy if he wins re-election.
“This council was divided with the way the mayor worked,” said Shiner, who is not a fan of outgoing Mayor David Miller. “I plan to bring that experience and offer it to the new mayor.”

Howard Moscoe not seeking re-election

Veteran city councillors will withdraw Sept 1
Moscoe endorsing candidate Josh Colle
Kris Scheuer
(Written Aug. 31 for Town Crier.)

Councillor Howard Moscoe is calling it quits after 31 years in politics. Photo by Francis Crescia/Town Crier file.

It’s official. Veteran Councillor Howard Moscoe is withdrawing from the Ward 15 race.
“It’s true,” he told the Town Crier this afternoon. “I decided a few weeks ago.”
He sent out a newsletter to his community today announcing his retirement.
“It’s not that I don’t love the job,” said Moscoe. “I’ve been in public office for 31 years.”
Moscoe has represented at least some section of Eglinton-Lawrence’s Ward 15 that entire time.
Currently there are six candidates (Moscoe, Rob Davis, Ron Singer,William Reitsma, Giuseppe Pede and Josh Colle) registered in Ward 15. Moscoe said that he will be formally withdrawing Sept. 1.

Denzil Minnan Wong seeks re-election

Toronto councillor rules out running for Toronto mayor
Registers as candidate in his Don Valley East ward instead
By Kris Scheuer
(Written March 31 for Town Crier.)

Councillor Denzil Minnan-Wong seeking re-election.

Denzil Minnan-Wong has decided not to run for mayor and is seeking to keep his old job as the city councillor for Don Valley East Ward 34 instead.
He was seriously considering running for the city’s top political job but in the end, Minnan-Wong decided his heart was in the ward where he grew and has lived here for 30 years.
“It was a personal decision for me to run for council again,” he said. “There’s still a lot to do.”

Michael Walker retiring from city hall

Veteran councillor recalls three decades in politics
Walker not seeking re-election in St. Paul’s
By Kris Scheuer
(Written for Town Crier March 24)

Councillor Michael Walker bids so long after 28 years on council, he's not seeking re-election. Photo by Francis Crescia/Town Crier.

It is with certainty that for the first time in 28 years, Michael Walker won’t be among the decision-makers guiding Toronto’s future come October.
The longtime St. Paul’s councillor has decided it’s time to retire, announcing in March that he won’t be seeking re-election.
The born and bred Torontonian has long political history, winning every election he’s ever entered — with the exception of his first try for school board back in 1976.
Recalling that first race, Walker says he refused offers of help, even from then MPP Margaret Scrivener, and knocked on doors alone. He came in third.

Miller not stepping down or running again

Mayor Miller’s important announcement was on the budget
Speculation his press event was on his future, was false
By Kris Scheuer

I  was in the very packed, hot (temperature-wise) Mayor David Miller’s office this morning for his widely anticipated “important announcement”.
Because everyone associated with the press conference was so tight-lipped about the subject manner not even offering the topic, it was speculated Miller was going to say he was running for re-election OR stepping down sooner than the end of this term. Not so.
It was to announce the city has $100 million more (above the $250 million surplus) in revenues than perviously thought.
I will report back later with my story for the Town Crier newspaper. For now, read his speech for yourself for the details.

Michael Walker to announce political future

Toronto councillor vows to make his decision in March
Walker openly considers retiring from politics but may run again
By Kris Scheuer
(Written Feb 19 for Town Crier. UPDATE here.)

Councillor Michael Walker.

North Toronto representative Michael Walker plans to make an announcement in March about his career at city hall.
As of March 3, Walker had yet to register for re-election in St. Paul’s Ward 22.
He’s openly talked to the Town Crier about the possibility of his retiring after 28 years as an elected official.
“I may need to make my decision by the end of March,” said Walker in mid-February. “I am leaning towards running, but everything is so fluid (at city hall).”

Toronto Danforth Ward 29 candidates

Councillor Case Ootes not running in To-Danforth
Four candidates running to be new Ward 29 rep
By Kris Scheuer
(Written Feb. 11 for Town Crier.)

Former Leaside councillor Jane Pitfield is running in Toronto Danforth’s Ward 29 and I wrote about her on Jan. 6 the day current rep Case Ootes announced he would not seek re-election. But she’s not the only one seeking this seat.
Now meet a trio of candidates running here: Chris Caldwell, John Richardson and Mike Restivo. Scroll down to read each profile.

Chris Caldwell wants to involve residents more in planning process. Photo courtesy of Chris Caldwell.

Chris Caldwell registered as a candidate on Jan. 4 before Ootes made a decision not to run.
I looked forward to running against him,” Caldwell said from his home 180 metres outside Ward 29. “There’s a lot I didn’t agree with (Ootes) on but it runs deeper than that. It is how people are engaged in the planning process. They want to see their desires reflected in policy.”
He wants the community to be involved in any development planning application from beginning to end.
“We make better decisions with more information,” said the 41-year-old business analyst and consultant with a background in urban planning.

Case Ootes not seeking re-election

Toronto Danforth councillor calling it quits in 2010
Ootes reflects on 21 years in public office
By Kris Scheuer
(Written Jan. 14 for Town Crier.)

Coun. Case Ootes not running for re-election in Ward 29. Photo by Francis Crescia/Town Crier.

With thoughts turned to a possible career in academia, Case Ootes is foregoing another run at council after two decades representing Toronto-Danforth’s ward 29.
On Jan. 6, Ootes announced his retirement from municipal politics, saying he will not be seeking re-election this year.
The father of four sat down with the Town Crier in his East York Civic Centre constituency office Jan. 13 to discuss how the area he’s represented has changed, life after city hall and a possible new career as a professor.
“I decided some time ago – a year ago,” he said of his decision not to run again. “I have been an elected official for almost 22 years. It has been rewarding, but I want to move on.”