Trustee aims to move up to seat on city council

[attach]1263[/attach]James Pasternak wants to make the political leap from school board to city council.

Last month, the North Yorker registered as a candidate for a council seat in the same riding he currently represents as public school board trustee: Ward 10 York Centre.

Pasternak, a public relations consultant, says he’s running to restore confidence in city hall.

“The city clearly needs fresh ideas,” he said. “Our infrastructure is crumbling, the fiscal situation … is very distressing. People have lost confidence in the city and we have to really re-invigorate that.”

He says his track record has helped prepare him for the heady challenges of council work.

Elected to the Toronto District School Board in 2006, Pasternak says he’s been a strong advocate of fiscal responsibility at the school board and a voice for students with special needs.

Pasternak was also a constituency assistant for a member of parliament, and worked as a policy analyst at Queen’s Park. A graduate of Leaside High School, he has degrees in political science.

Pasternak wants to oversee work on the Bathurst and Finch community hub, fix traffic problems and get local roads repaired.

The longtime ward resident said he chose to file nomination papers early to get the word out to residents.

“I’d like to knock on every door in the ward, and the only way to do that is to register early.”

Two other candidates, Magda Gondor Berkovits and Edward Zaretsky, have registered to run in Ward 10. Current councillor Mike Feldman has not yet announced whether he will be seeking re-election.