Redraw wards based on population

Councillor Filion’s ward has 100,000 people
City average is 58,000
So he wants city wide ward boundary review
Kris Scheuer
(Written for Town Crier Feb. 3)

John Filion wants the city to redraw ward boundaries so the population is more evenly distributed for council representation.
And if it doesn’t happen soon, he’s looking at taking matters into his own hands.
A few years ago the Willowdale rep asked for a staff report on redrawing the 44 ward boundaries, but it never materialized. He expects a report this council term.
Filion has taken up the cause again because his ward is so densely populated.
His office represents 88,840 residents, according to city stats projections to 2009.
Filion said the current number is closer to 100,000 people. The city median is 58,776 residents per ward, so Filion represents almost double the average. Ward 23 is bounded roughly by Steeles Avenue, Bayview Avenue, Highway 401 and Bathurst Street.

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Toronto-Danforth Ward 29 race

No incumbent, who will win heated contest?
Kris Scheuer
(Written for Town Crier Oct. 15)

Ward 29 candidate Jane Pitfield.

It’s shaping up to be one of the most hotly contested council races in town: Toronto-Danforth’s Ward 29.
It’s got everything: no incumbent, a former councillor as candidate and a party-backed star candidate.
Case Ootes, who’s held the ward for almost 22 years, is not seeking re-election. Six candidates in total are vying for the job: Jane Pitfield, Jennifer Wood, Mary Fragedakis, John Richardson, Mike Restivo and Chris Caldwell.
Pitfield has the advantage in the final stretch of the campaign, said Ryerson political professor Mitch Kosny.

Jennifer Wood asked to bow out in Ward 29

Rita Smith emails Wood suggesting she quit race
Kris Scheuer
(Written for Town Crier Oct. 15)

 

Jennifer Wood asked to step out of Ward 29 race. Photo courtesy of Jennifer Wood.

 

An email from a Jane Pitfield campaign supporter asking candidate Jennifer Wood to “do the right thing” and drop out of the Ward 29 council race is causing major tension in the east-end race.
Rita Smith, who has been a volunteer on Pitfield’s campaign, sent the email in question to Wood on morning of Oct. 14, the day after Rocco Rossi dropped out of the mayor’s race.
“Jennifer, now that Rocco has bowed out … I hope you will give serious consideration to doing the same thing,” the email read. “You would be doing the right thing for the right reason, and everyone would admire your judgement (sic) in the situation.”
Smith admits sending the email but is adamant she did so without the consent, knowledge or direction of Pitfield.

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 10 competitive race

Who will fill outgoing Councillor Feldman’s shoes?
Kris Scheuer
(Written for Town Crier Oct. Eight)

 

ANYONE’S GAME: A dozen candidates want to represent Ward 10. Clockwise from top left: Igor Toutchinski, Brian Shifman, Edward Zaretsky, Eric Plant, James Pasternak, Nancy Oomen, Robert Freedland, Magda Berkovits, Konstantin Toubis and Jarred Friedman. Not pictured: Drago Banovic and Joseph Cohen.

 

It was already going to be a packed race, but when longtime York-Centre councillor Mike Feldman announced he wouldn’t be seeking re-election, more candidates jumped on board for Ward 10.
Now, a dizzying dozen people are vying for your vote in Ward 10.
The victor on Oct. 25 will have his or her hands full this coming term, with ongoing ward issues like the planned Etobicoke-Finch West Light Rail line, vaccine manufacturer Sanofi Pasteur’s planned plant expansion at Dufferin and Steeles, and development pressures such as the proposal to redevelop the Bathurst Manor plaza. The new councillor will also need to address the needs of a rapidly growing senior population.
Ward 10 candidates told the Town Crier their priorities range from crime reduction to better management of the city’s finances, reducing gridlock and creating more engaged public process for local developments.

Trinity-Spadina Ward 19 candidates

No incumbent, nine candidates compete for vote
Seat up for grabs in competitive race
Kris Scheuer

It’s eleven days until election day. And I am still an undecided voter for mayor, trustee and council candidates in my Ward 19. As a political reporter who interviews candidates, writes city hall stories and pleads with people to be informed voters: I need to take my own advice.
In the past, I have had the advantage of interviewing candidates in elections in the different downtown Toronto ridings and wards I have lived in.
Or my colleagues have done stories on the local candidates where I reside, so that’s always helped me stay on top of issues, who is running and what they stand for.
This election, the Town Crier where I work has been heavily covering the election since last year even before candidates started officially registering Jan. 4. But we are not covering Ward 19. So I am on my own.
Besides reading campaignmaterial and dropping by the offices of local candidates in my neighbourhood, I am attending a Ward 19 debate tonight.
I hope to become better informed.
I will let you know tomorrow (Fri Oct 15) my thoughts on the registered candidates for this Trinity-Spadina Ward 19: David (Ted) Footman, Mike Layton, Jim Likourezos, Sean McCormick, Karlene Nation, George Sawision, Jason Stevens, Karen Sun and Rosario Bruto (email: rossbruto@hotmail.com).

Ward 16 Karen Stintz vs. Terry Mills

Horserace is incumbent Stintz’s to lose
But candidate Terry Mills makes big push
Kris Scheuer
(Written for Town Crier Oct. 7)

Councillor Karen Stintz seeks re-election in Ward 16. Francis Crescia/Town Crier.

Ward 16 candidate Terry Mills may be giving Councillor Karen Stintz a political run for her money, but the incumbent still has the advantage in this race for Eglinton-Lawrence.
Mills, a professional planner with an architectural background is tapping into the key issue in this ward: development. Mills has the backing of Patrick Smyth, a member of the Avenue Road Eglinton Community Association. Smyth said he’s unimpressed with Stintz despite having supported her in 2003.
He’s specifically unhappy with Stintz’s decision to support two Riocan developments: A retirement residence at Avenue Road and Willowbank Boulevard, and Riocan’s plan to cover the open square at Yonge and Eglinton.
While Smyth claims Stintz hasn’t met a development she doesn’t like, her voting record shows otherwise.

Liz West candidate Ward 30

Journalist makes a run for politics
Kris Scheuer
(Written for Town Crier Sept. 11.)

Council candidate Liz West is taking on Paula Fletcher in Ward 30. Photo courtesy of Liz West.

Broadcast reporter Liz West wants to trade in the microphone for a seat on city council.
The Toronto-Danforth candidate is running in Ward 30 against incumbent Paula Fletcher.
“I’m a working mom, a taxpayer and local resident. I’m just as disillusioned as my neighbours with city hall,” said West, who is currently a freelance journalist with a makeover show on Cosmo TV.
She’s put her broadcast career on hold while she campaigns for public office. The fact she’s been an on-air reporter for 15 years with City News, CP24 and Canada AM gives her a certain level of name recognition and visibility, she said. But so does the fact she is a local resident.
“I’m pretty visible in the community,” West said Sept. 10 in between campaigning. “I’ve been in the area for 12 years. I shop locally. I have two young kids and when you have young kids you are mixing with other families. I am out using the parks.”

Gary Walsh Ward 30 candidate

Kris Scheuer
(Written Sept. 11 for Town Crier.)

Gary Walsh is running for his third attempt to be elected as a city councillor. Photo courtesy of Gary Walsh.

Gary Walsh is not happy with the representation of Councillor Paula Fletcher in Ward 30, so he’s running against her.
“I am running against Paula Fletcher. She is part of (Mayor) David Miller and the NDP cartel. And these people have to be stopped and sent packing and sent to power detox,” Walsh said.
“There’s been a total mismanagement of the city,” said the former paramedic who drives a taxi part time. “I am particularly annoyed at the Tuggs deal in the Beaches.”
He’s referring to city council’s approval of a 20-year sole source contract to George Foulidis owner of Tuggs Inc. that runs the Boardwalk Café in the Beaches.
He repeatedly called the city government corrupt in an interview from city hall Sept. 10.

Igor Toutchinski Ward 10 candidate

Will York Centre council candidate win this time?
Toutchinksi’s been a runner up in previous elctions
Kris Scheuer
(Written for Town Crier Sept. 2)

Igor Toutchinski is running in a crowded field of Ward 10 council candidates.

A two-time Ward 10 council candidate who was runner-up in the 2006 municipal election race hoping he’ll emerge victorious this time around.
In 2006, in a field of seven candidates, Igor Toutchinski came second to Councillor Mike Feldman, who recently announced he won’t seek re-election.
But even with no incumbent, it’ll be a tough race. As of press time, Toutchinski was up against nine other candidates.
“This race will be very tight,” Toutchinski said. “The winner will win with a small amount of votes.”
He said his advantage is his profile in the Russian community, which is large in North York. According to Toutchinski, about a quarter of all eligible voters in Ward 10 are of Russian background.