Local council reps to vie for another term this fall

[attach]1207[/attach]She may be in no hurry to formally register but make no mistake: Beaches-East York councillor Sandra Bussin is seeking re-election in her ward this year.

“Yes, I will be registering sometime in the future,” the ward 32 rep said in an interview at a Danforth Avenue restaurant. “There are a number of projects I am still interested in pursuing.”

One of the issues dear to her heart is ensuring incineration was not brought back to Ashbridges Bay Treatment Plant.

In December, she successfully had council remove a certificate for approval for incineration at the treatment plant. This means burning the residue from water treatment is longer an option as part of the approved Biosolids Master Plan, said Bussin.

She would like to be back to steer the completion of the Beach Skateboard Park and the new TTC streetcar storage and repair facility at Leslie Street and Lakeshore Boulevard.

Bussin was first elected to city council in 1997, prior to that was a school trustee and a senior political advisor at Queen’s Park for 15 years.

As of press time, Bruce Baker and Albert Castells had registered as candidates in the ward 32 race.

[attach]1208[/attach]Neighbouring Toronto-Danforth Councillor Paula Fletcher is also seeking re-election, but don’t expect to see her canvassing any time soon.

“I’m just registering to let people know my intention,” said the ward 30 rep. “I won’t be actually campaigning for quite awhile.”

Fletcher, who was first elected to Toronto council in 2003, said it’s too early for councillors to start speculating on mayoral candidates.

“This is way too early,” she said. “I think that everybody, just like the rest of the community, we’re just waiting to see what people have to say on issues that are very important.”

Fletcher has been a vocal supporter of Mayor David Miller, having been a member of his executive committee. She said she’d support a candidate who wants to continue a large number of initiatives that have begun over the last four years. She’d be opposed to a candidate who’d consider selling off public assets.

As for her own ward, Fletcher wants to continue working on increasing residential and commercial solar energy use, implementing green jobs in Toronto and city-building.

“I am very big on getting all of my parks just as beautiful, wonderful community spaces,” she said.

As of press time, the only other candidate registered for Ward 30 was Nadeem Jilani.