New faces coming to council

Take a look at Toronto’s 45-member city council today because it will look different after the election.

At least seven councillors won’t be representing their wards after October. Plus Mayor David Miller won’t be back. That’s guaranteed.
But the turnover will be higher than that.

In the 2010 election, four incumbents Case Ootes, Michael Walker, Adam Giambrone and Kyle Rae aren’t running again. Three coucillors Rob Ford, Giorgio Mammoliti and Joe Pantalone are running for mayor not in their own wards. So there will be at least seven new councillors plus a new mayor.

Then there’s some unknowns that could bring additional change. As of May 7, four councillors haven’t registered for re-election: Mark Grimes, David Shiner, Doug Holyday and Mike Feldman.

If all four don’t run, that would bring the total of open councillor races to 11 (not including the mayor’s race).

Of the 33 councillors seeking re-election in their own wards some may not be successful, which would bring even more change. But it won’t be unprecedented…

In 2003, the city saw 13 new councillors as two incumbents were defeated and 11 chose not to run again.

That was the election that brought us Mark Grimes, Bill Saundercook, Sylvia Watson, Cesar Palacio, Adam Giambrone, Cliff Jenkins, Paula Fletcher, Janet Davis, Shelley Carroll, Michael Thompson, Glenn De Baeremaeker in races with no incumbent. And Mike Del Grande beat then councillor Sherene Shaw and Karen Stintz defeated veteran rep Anne Johnston.

Plus, with Councillor Bas Balkissoon becoming an MPP in 2005 there were 14 new faces on council compared to 2000.

In 2006 election, we saw change again compared to the 2003 elected-council when seven reps didn’t re-offer plus one who was voted out.

Adam Vaughan, Gord Perks, John Parker, Adrian Heaps, Chin Lee, Paul Ainslie, Ron Moeser won in races with no incumbent. Councillor Peter Li Preti lost to Anthony Perruzza.

If the past two elections are any indication, most of the changes occur not by voters kicking out the current reps, but only when there is an open race that guarantees a new face.

Despite the odds, 109 candidates are vying for spots in 33 races where the incumbents are running for re-election. In wide open races with no incumbent, 48 candidates are competing for seven seats. In the remaining four races where current reps have yet to declare, nine people are registered so far.

I’m not a gambler and the election comes down to more than odds, but anyone want to bet how many new faces we will see on council? And how many incumbents will be back despite the newcomers knocking on the door? Do you feel Toronto is due for more change than usual?

Let me know at [email=kscheuer@mytowncrier.ca]kscheuer@mytowncrier.ca[/email] or 416-785-4311 ext. 336.