Carolyn Bennett wins St. Paul

Popular Liberal keeps her seat in St. Paul’s
Bennett bucks trend as other Liberals lost seats
Kris Scheuer
(Written for the Town Crier May 2)

What happened? Carolyn Bennett won in St. Paul's but the Liberals dropped to third party in government. Photo by Kris Scheuer/Towm Crier.

May 2 was a bittersweet night for Liberal MP Carolyn Bennett, who held onto her St. Paul’s seat but saw her once-dominant party face defeat of historic proportions.
Bennett, a popular Liberal member of parliament and former doctor, obtained about 40 percent of the vote. Though she still garnered a healthy lead, even Bennett felt the sting of Liberal backlash. In the past five federal elections, she’s garnered over 50 percent of the vote.
But the mood was decidedly sombre at her campaign party at Grano Restaurant as she and other staunch supporters watched Liberal incumbents across the country lose seat after seat.
“It’s congratulations and condolences all at the same time,” Bennett said to the crowd, acknowledging her win and the devastating Liberal defeat across the country.

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Ward 22 elects Josh Matlow

St. Paul’s school trustee to be next ward councillor
Chris Sellors comes second in hard-fought contest
Kris Scheuer
(Written for Town Crier Oct. 25)

Newly elected Ward 22 councillor Josh Matlow gets a celebratory hug from his mother Elaine Mitchell. Photo by Kris Scheuer/Town Crier.

The battle for Ward 22 is over and school board trustee Josh Matlow has come out on top.
Matlow won with 11,892 votes while Chris Sellors came second with 8,037 votes.
At his victory celebration councillor elect-Matlow, surrounded by supporters including his wife Melissa, father Ted Matlow and his mom Elaine Mitchell, expressed his gratitude to all those who helped him during the campaign.
“I am deeply appreciative,” Josh Matlow told the Town Crier tonight after his victory speech. “I woke up this morning knowing I was going to win because of the response we had at the door.”

St. Paul’s Ward 22 exciting race

Candidate Chris Sellors.

Kris Scheuer
(Written for Town Crier Oct. Eight)

It’s the most exciting race in midtown.
A veteran councillor stepping down after decades of service, and only four candidates gunning to replace him.
So who will take St. Paul’s Ward 22 come election day?
Chris Sellors has worked in outgoing Councillor Michael Walker’s office for almost nine years.

Josh Matlow - Ward 22 candidate.

Josh Matlow has been the outspoken St. Paul’s public school trustee since 2003.
William Molls is a bright, articulate local resident who seemed to come out of nowhere. Also on the ballot is Elizabeth Cook, an unknown who registered her name on the last day of nominations.

Ward 22 all-candidates debate

St. Paul’s council candidates hash out issues 
Kris Scheuer
(Written Oct. 6 for Town Crier.)

 

Ward 22 candidates Josh Matlow, William Molls, Chris Sellors at the Town Crier-sponsored debate. Photo by Francis Crescia/Town Crier.

 

Transit was the hot issue of the night at the Town Crier’s all-candidates debate for St. Paul’s Ward 22.
Seniors, parents with young children came out to the First Unitarian Congregation of Toronto to hear what council candidates Chris Sellors, Josh Matlowand William Molls had to say about development, resident engagement and the TTC.
Sellors doesn’t support the currently approved Transit City plan for light rapid transit lines as he favours subways instead.
“About 96 percent of people I talk to say we should still be in the business of building subways,” said Sellors, who was the executive assistant to retiring councillor Michael Walker.

Beth McLellan Ward 21 candidate

Council candidate takes on current rep Joe Mihevc
Kris Scheuer
(Written for Town Crier Sept. 16)

Candidate Beth McLellan decided rather than complain to challenge incumbent Councillor Joe Mihevc. Photo courtesy of Beth McLellan.

St. Paul’s resident Beth McLellan felt compelled to run for council despite warnings the odds are stacked against her.
“I threw my hat in the ring September 3,” said the Ward 21 candidate. “So many people are complaining in our ward saying they were unhappy and (yet) they said absolutely no one could beat Joe Mihevc.”
While aware that beating any incumbent is no easy task, McClellan said she’s ready for the challenge.
“I have been handing out flyers,” she said. “I am going to businesses and homes and talking to people.”
McLellan said she’s not happy with the way city hall spends money, including allowing city employees to ring up millions in credit card charges with little accountability. She noted the price tag for the St. Clair Right-of Way grew exponentially during construction.

Sellors, Matlow, Molls campaign

Ward 22 candidates campaign spending priorities
Kris Scheuer
(Written Aug. 23 for Town Crier)

Ward 22 candidate Chris Sellors.

In the competitive St. Paul’s Ward 22 race, candidates seek any advantage they can gain over their opponents.
As of Aug. 23, candidate Chris Sellors was the only hopeful planning to open a campaign office. His storefront office opened Sept. 1 in a prime spot on Yonge Street at Belsize Drive.
Sellors said he started scanning empty stores in late March, but the first call he made was for a space at 1973 Yonge Street. The spot needed fixing up and was empty because it’s part of an eight-storey redevelopment project.
It’s here where Sellors plans to hold team meetings, and provide campaign literature, he said. It’s also a place where voters can access him.
“I was swift enough to look for a campaign office when everyone else was sleeping,” Sellors said Aug. 20.

Chris Sellors St. Paul’s candidate

Sellors a candidate to replace retiring by Coun. Walker
Walker endorses his former assistant  Sellors for Ward 22
By Kris Scheuer
(Written for Town Crier March 25)

Chris Sellors announced his candidacy March 11. Kris Scheuer/Town Crier.

Chris Sellors has decided to step out of the shadow of Councillor Michael Walker and try to take over Ward 22 from his retiring his former boss.
“I will take his methods and build on them,” said Sellors, who started volunteering with Walker in 1997 and has the councillor’s endorsement. “I will remember what he has taught me, but I am my own man.”
Sellors was hired as the constituency assistant for the St. Paul’s councillor back in 2001 and became Walker’s executive assistant in 2005.
“I was over the moon,” said Sellors. “I was so honoured.”

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.

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).”

Davisville redevelopment and ARC

TDSB examines how best to accommodate students
And redevelopment possibilities discussed at school site
By Kris Scheuer
(Written Jan. 13 for Town Crier. UPDATE here.)

The possibility of redeveloping Davisville Junior Public School has drawn the ire of councillor Michael Walker who says the 48-year-old education facility should be left as is.
The Toronto District School Board is forming a local community design team in the coming months to look at redevelopment for the land just east of Yonge Street.
“I find it offensive Davisville is looked upon as (a financial) asset,” says Walker. “It’s a school first.”
According to school trustee Josh Matlow, the possibility of closing the school and redeveloping the land is one of many options being passed around at this point. Closure of the school is unlikely, he says, and redevleopment is not a certainty.
“We have met with parents and ratepayers. They have been told directly redevelopment won’t happen without their consent,” says Matlow, who is running for a council seat in St. Paul’s, ward 22.