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.

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Ward 27 election debate

Game show format tests candidates’ knowledge of area
By Kris Scheuer
(Written for the Town Crier.)

Perry Missal, left, next to Robert Meynell, Kristyn Wong-Tam, Simon Wookey, Enza Anderson and Ken Chan at the debate. Photo by Kris Scheuer/Town Crier.

Rob Salerno listens as Chris Tindal, to his right, Susan Gapka and Ken Chan wait to weigh in. Photo by Kris Scheuer.

It wasn’t your typical debate.
First off, it was held at Fly nightclub. Second, it was done game show style to test the knowledge of the candidates in the most crowded council race in Toronto.
A dozen of the 13 registered Toronto Centre-Rosedale candidates hit the stage for a rowdy session organized by Vote Toronto and hosted by comedian Maggie Cassella.
The event deemed “So you think you can council?” focused on issues from the serious to the fun.
In the spotlight was on Ward 27 candidates Kristyn Wong-Tam, Chris Tindal, Simon Wookey, Rob Salerno, Ella Rebanks, Perry Missal, Robert Meynell, Susan Gapka, Joel Dick, Evan Dean, Ken Chan and Enza Anderson. Paul Spence was the only candidate not in attendance at the June 10 event.

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.

Kristyn Wong-Tam Ward 27 candidate

She’s one of 13 candidates running in Toronto Centre Rosedale
Wong-Tam’s a real estate agent and community activist
By Kris Scheuer
(Written March 31 for Town Crier.)

Kristyn Wong Tam is running in Ward 27. Photo courtesy of candidate KWT.

Kristyn Wong-Tam never intended to run for council.
But a surprise party with 60 supporters asking her to run convinced her to register on March 1 as a candidate in Toronto Centre Rosedale’s Ward 27.
“I had not planned to run for civic office,” she said March 30. “But I wouldn’t be running if I didn’t think I had a real chance of winning.”
She’s no stranger to working on local issues.
“I spoke with local councillors about issues that affect residents,” said Wong-Tam, who owns an art gallery on Queen West. “I have worked on issues around affordable housing, racial and gender equity, economic justice, parks and recreation, community-based arts and street safety.”
One of her first jobs was as an intake worker in a women’s shelter on Church Street where she helped people transition from living on the street into stable housing.

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.

Who will replace Kyle Rae?

Enza Anderson, El-Farouk Khaki, Susan Gapka possibilities
Early election contenders, others expected as Kyle Rae leaves seat for grabs
By Kris Scheuer
(Written Dec. 21 for Town Crier. Read UPDATE.)

Enza Anderson plans to run for council in Toronto Centre Ward 27. The shovel symbolizes her intention to clean up city hall.

Candidates are already lining up at the gates to replace outgoing councillor Kyle Rae.
Rae announced he won’t seek re-election in 2010. With no incumbent, the contest for Toronto Centre-Rosedale is wide open.
Here’s an early sneak peek at how the race is shaping up thus far:
Enza Anderson is throwing her hat in the ring.. “I want to show people Enza Anderson is dead serious about making change.”
The high profile transgendered local resident has run twice before in 2000 for mayor against Mel Lastman and against Rae in 2003.

Kyle Rae quits city politics

The veteran will not seek re-election in 2010
His take on the voters, his colleagues and the city
By Kris Scheuer
(Written Dec. 21 for Town Crier.)

Toronto Centre-Rosedale Councillor Kyle Rae will miss consulting with constituents, but not the narrow mindedness of some colleagues at city hall.
The veteran politician will finish his 19th year on council next year and then call it quits, he announced in mid-December.
“I love the public meetings,” he tells the Town Crier Dec. 14.
Yet he’s often referred to the outrageous demands or unrealistic expectations of some voters who want to halt change.
“That’s the most hilarious part. That’s the fun part,” says Rae, who turns 55 in January. “A lot of my constituents want the status quo also, but that’s an unacceptable perspective to take in the downtown core.”

Kyle Rae won’t seek re-election

Veteran councillor calls it quits in 2010
His seat will be wide open for next year’s election
By Kris Scheuer

Councillor Kyle Rae is bowing out in 2010. The veteran politician was first elected in 1991.

I interviewed Kyle Rae Dec. 14 and he is definitely not running next year.
He told me there’s two main reasons for his decision: lack of financial leadership from the province and federal government in working with the city and the lack of vision of some of his colleagues on council.
He seems to fondly enjoy his work in public service, so I think he may continue do some public service in some form.
He’s yet to decide what to do next.
By this time next year, there will be a new councillor in Toronto-Centre Rosedale Ward 27.
There are a few names floating about.