Carroll may run for mayor

[attach]840[/attach]One thing is for certain: North York councillor Shelley Carroll is running in next year’s municipal election.

The Don Valley East rep is contemplating whether to seek re-election in Ward 33 or jump into the race for mayor.

The budget chief said she’ll make a decision before the end of the year.

“I am running for council if nothing else,” Carroll said from her city hall office. “I do have to think about the mayor’s office.

“It certainly wouldn’t be the first time a budget chief was pressured to run.”

David Miller announced Sept. 25 he would not seek a third term as mayor in the 2010 municipal election.

“There was a lot of pressure in the first two days after the mayor resigned,” said Carroll. “It is still only 2009.”

She said she is focused on her ward and the 2010 budget process which is starting to ramp up this month.

“I have a lot of work to do right now in Ward 33,” said Carroll.

Two other longtime North York councillors, Mike Feldman and David Shiner, may be back on the ballot in 2010.

Shiner, who represents Ward 24, said he plans to remain in municipal politics.

The Willowdale rep, who ran unsuccessfully for a seat at Queen’s Park during the 2007 provincial election, said he’s been asked by many to consider running for mayor, but he’s not ready to say if that’s a possibility.

“Right now I’m waiting to see who steps forward,” Shiner said.

He added the Responsible Government Group, an informal alliance of right-leaning councillors who are vocal critics of the mayor, will likely organize to support one candidate.

Shiner said he wants to see a mayor who will focus on uptown and suburban Toronto, including North York, Etobicoke and Scarborough as he felt those areas are being ignored under Miller’s tenure.

He wants to see a mayoral candidate who knows how to balance the budget, Shiner added.

“We need someone who can manage the finances of the city much better than the mayor and the current budget chair,” he said. “They’ve been ridiculous in their spending.”

Meanwhile, Feldman said he has yet to make a decision about seeking re-election in York Centre. But he did indicate he wants to keep working.

“I don’t know what’s going to happen between now and next year — I’m feeling okay. What else would I do for aggravation?” he said with a laugh.

At 81, Feldman is the oldest of Toronto’s 44 councillors.

To date construction of more community centres in Ward 10 and fixing municipal infrastructure are on his to-do list.

“I think the city really let the infrastructure go and I want to see it restored — roads, sewers,” said Feldman. “I want to get rid of the flooding. I want to get back to basics.”

Feldman isn’t considering a run at mayor, but said it’ll be interesting to see who steps forward now that there’s no incumbent.

“It’s a long way to go and in all elections I always find surprises,” he said. “So before you commit, you’ve got to know who’s running, and you’ve got to know what their platform is.”

All candidates running for election in 2010 can register as early as Jan. 4.