Candidate wants to be one-term councillor

[attach]7620[/attach]It may not be the most common campaign strategy, but soon-to-be Ward 26 candidate William Jardine says if he wins he’ll be serving one term as councillor — and that’s it.

“I’m not in this to be the Hazel McCallion of Leaside,” he said March 18, referring to the long-time Mississauga mayor. “I’m not going to be mayor, I’m not going to be a rock star.

“This is a one-shot deal for me. I don’t have any long-term political ambitions.”

The 51-year-old South Leaside resident and Canadian military veteran, who worked on the campaign of Ward 26 runner-up Jon Burnside in 2010, will officially announce his candidacy at a March 21 event at the Olive Oil Emporium, at 1707 Bayview Ave., and will file his nomination in late March or early April.

Only one candidate, ACTRA Toronto president David Sparrow, has filed to date, though current councillor John Parker says he plans to seek a third term and will file his nomination also in late March or early April.

Jardine says the Don Valley West ward has been represented well by Parker, but he thinks it’s time to see a new face representing the area — and he thinks he can do the job better than anyone else.

He said the ward faces a variety of issues, which differ depending on whether one is a resident of Leaside, Wynford Heights, Thorncliffe Park, Flemingdon Park or Bennington Heights. Aside from local issues, he says he wants to focus on tempering party politics at city hall.

“There’s way too much party politics at city hall,” the one-time card-carrying Conservative said. “It’s something I’d like to see minimized — or at least more cooperation.”