Laskin back in action as trustee

A battle to rule the schools in St. Paul’s was brewing and trustee-elect Shelley Laskin won the fight.

For Laskin it’s back to her old job as she was the St. Paul’s trustee from 1997 to 2003.

Laskin stayed with St. Paul’s as school council chair at both Hodgson Senior PS and Northern SS and was a three-year representative in trustee Josh Matlow’s ward forum.

Starting in 2004, Laskin worked for the province in the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care and also the Ministry of Health Promotion. The province has set up a healthy schools framework.

Laskin was among five contenders battling for this seat after outgoing Trustee Josh Matlow, who opted to run for council in St. Paul’s Ward 22 instead. It was a close race for Laskin with Adam Chaleff-Freudenthaler struggling to win with 7372 votes, short of Laskin’s 11326 tally.

Candidate Mark Tishman with 3157 votes, who was born and raised in the area and attended local elementary and high schools. Tishman has been volunteering with the local police liaison on gang reduction programs in the area and community clean-ups.

Second-time candidate Mike Wiener got 6377 votes this time compared to the 3,897 ballots cast in his favour in 2006.

Candidate Anthony Martin received 2536 votes.

Of the many hot topics in this race, school closures were one of the top debates and the potential redevelopment of school sites such Davsville PS.