Josh Matlow running for council seat

School trustee first to declare he’ll run in St. Paul’s ward 22
Matlow dives in, but current Councillor Walker may retire in 2010
By Kris Scheuer
(Originally written Oct. 7 for Town Crier.)

School board trustee Josh Matlow, left, has already announced that he’ll be running in Ward 22 even if councillor Michael Walker runs again in 2010.

The council race in St. Paul’s has unofficially started.
Councillor Michael Walker is contemplating retirement and while the 27-year political veteran decides his future others are lining up at the gate.
Public school trustee Josh Matlow has declared he will run in Walker’s ward in 2010.
Toronto Sun columnist Sue-Ann Levy has not ruled out running nor has community activist Michael Visser. Walker’s executive assistant Chris Sellors would consider running if his boss is out of the race.
Matlow sat down with the Town Crier to discuss his candidacy on Oct. 6 the afternoon he declared he will seek the council seat and his main message was on building consensus with the public and at city hall.

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Josh Matlow running for St. Paul’s councillor

School trustee will run for council seat in St. Paul’s ward 22
Plans to register Jan. 4 as council candidate for 2010 election
By Kris Scheuer

I just finished an interview with St. Paul’s school trustee Josh Matlow at 5 pm today and he said he will be running for a council seat in next year’s municipal election.
He had long been rumoured to be thinking of running in ward 22, which is held by veteran councillor Michael Walker. But he didn’t make it official until today via Twitter and Facebook.
For more on my sit down interview with the outspoken trusteee, visit www.mytowncrier.ca tomorrow Oct. 7.
I also spoke with councillor Walker today, before Matlow’s announcement, and he said he is contemplating a run for re-election but is also considering retiring next year. Toronto Sun reporter Sue-Ann Levy is rumoured to be running in St. Paul’s ward 22. But she has just come off a loss in a provincial byelection Sept. 17. She told me today, she doesn’t intend to run but has not ruled it out.
Local community activist, Oriole Park resident and photographer Michael Visser said in an interview this afternoon he will be a canadidate in the the ward 22 if councillor Walker doesn’t run.
Walker’s executive assistant Chris Sellors has also be rumoured as a candidate but has no intention of running if his boss is on the ballot next year.

Victory for Liberals in St. Paul’s byelection

Eric Hoskins soundly defeats Sue-Ann Levy
Liberals hold onto riding vacated by Liberal Michael Bryant
By Brian Baker and Kris Scheuer
(Written Sept. 17 for Town Crier newspaper.)

Premier Dalton McGuinty congratulates Liberal Eric Hoskins in St. Paul's byelection victory. Photo by Francis Crescia/Town Crier.

In spite of some pundits expecting a close race in St. Paul’s, Liberal candidate Eric Hoskins cruised to an easy victory over his Progressive Conservative rival, well-known Toronto Sun columnist Sue-Ann Levy.
“I’m so humbled by the response of the residents of St. Paul’s,” Hoskins told the Town Crier while at the Sports Centre Cafe. “I’m overwhelmed, excited and it was a fantastic campaign.”
Hoskins took over 47 percent of the total vote and bested Levy by more than 4,700 votes (with 14 polls still to report).
While he was clearly enjoying his win he won’t be celebrating for too long as he says he has work to do.
“I think the next step is to open a constituency office so people know that I’m there, I’m accessible and the issues that are important to them, they know they can count on me to work with them,” he said.