Toronto Council meets today! It’s a very special meeting to select appointees to fill vacancies created by the resignation of Kristyn Wong-Tam and Joe Cressy. It’s not likely to be super action-packed, but I will tweet highlights. Streaming live here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ObWIKoYjKiI
Candidates for Ward 10 are speaking now. @AprilEngelberg, who finished second to Cressy in 2018, plays her campaign video from that election. She takes aim at competing candidate Joe Mihevc, who has been working as a registered lobbyist.
In a break from the past few times they’ve done an appointment process like this, councillors so far are asking no questions of candidates. Usually, they ask for prospective appointees to promise they won’t run in the next general election.
Jesse “Gru” Allan, a homeless person, is next up for the Ward 10 race. He focuses on housing. He says this city and the police “criminalize and brutalize the homeless population, instead of actually helping.” “I just want to see some real, actual change.”
Perhaps not a Thriller of a speech. But not Bad. Off the Wall choice that could go down in HIStory.
Hey, I remember this guy. Former councillor Joe Mihvec, who lost to Councillor Josh Matlow in 2018, is up now to make his pitch to be appointed to the seat in Ward 10. He says his presence here “shows that life indeed does have its twists and turns.” He didn’t expect to be back.
MIhevc says he’s applying for this role knowing it’s a short-term caretaker role. He has no intention of running in the election. He’s got experience as Board of Health chair and thinks he can provide continuity on the board.
Mihevc acknowledges he has been doing some mediation (as a registered lobbyist) with private sector developers. “Yes, there is such a thing as a progressive developer who is in touch with the common good,” he says. Here’s a quick look at some of Mihevc’s lobbying clients.
Unless there’s some sort of exemption for appointees I’m not aware of, if he got this appointment Mihevc would be barred from City Hall lobbying for a one-year period after the next election.
Candidate Mark Salvarinas says he follows city hall primarily through reporting from @BenSpurr, @dmrider and me, “who are probably tweeting as we speak.” Lucky guess!
Salvarinas brings up the stat that 40% of park water fountains still aren’t turned on as an example of a needed fix. “Many say there’s not much you can accomplish over five months and two council meetings, but if appointed I look forward to proving the naysayers wrong.”
All right, it’s time to vote for the Ward 10 appointment. Ballots are NOT secret. This is a run-off system, because of course it would be ridiculous to elect someone to an office like city councillor via an unfair system like first-past-the-post.
He’s baaaack. Joe MIhevc wins appointment to Ward 10 - Spadina-Fort York on the first ballot, with 20 votes. April Engelberg got one vote, as did Julie Kaye. Councillor Jaye Robinson voted for Engelberg while Councillor Stephen Holyday backed Kaye. Everyone else for Mihevc.
Mayor John Tory moves to appoint Mihevc to the Ec Dev Committee, the Board of Health, the Ex Board, amongst other appointments. That CARRIES via show of hands.
Now it’s time to do the same thing for Lucky Ward 13. Here’s the speaking order, which includes some double-dips from the Ward 10 selection. Interestingly, candidate Timothy Hunting gets asked by Bailao whether he plans to run in the fall election. He says no.
Michael Jackson is back. He’s also standing for an apppointment to Ward 13. “A question on many people’s minds: what is it like to have a name like that? Well, with five siblings, being the Jackson Five made high school quite interesting.”
Credit to this Michael Jackson for sticking with “Michael” and not going by “Mike” or “Mick” or whatever. Office Space vibes.
Former Wong-Tam chief of staff Robin Buxton Potts is speaking now. She says she has the support of Wong-Tam and ward residents, and has a “proven commitment to public service.” Several residents’ associations have written letters of support. She says she won’t run in the fall.
Candidate Dean Maher is up now, who tells council about his role in founding the CityPlace Residents’ Association and BIA. He also served on the board of Toronto Humane Society. He says his focus is affordable rental housing and co-op housing.
Maher says he won’t run for council, school board or mayor this fall. “I wouldn’t win mayor anyhow!” he says with a laugh, adding that he supports Tory.
Community organizer and frequent city hall deputant Miguel Avila is up now. He speaks of an Indigenous woman living in Allan Gardens who is facing eviction. “We have to be kind and generous to our Indigenous people.” He knows he won’t win, and throws support behind Buxton Potts.
Avila has brought his t-shirt collection from many years of grassroots advocacy and activism.
The candidate speeches are done, and councillors will now proceed with the vote for Ward 13. A bit more intrigue with this one. Buxton Potts was the favourite, but Bailao asking other candidates whether they plan to run in the fall suggests we could see support for an alternative
The results are in! Robin Buxton Potts is your new councillor for Ward 13, getting 18 votes. Candidate Azim Lila got one vote, from Councillor Mark Grimes. The rest of those in attendance went with Buxton Potts.
Councillor Shelley Carroll moves to appoint Robin Buxton Potts to the Planning & Housing Committee, the Board of Health, and other committee roles previously held by Wong-Tam. That carries via show of hands.
And that’s all for this special meeting. Alas, no surprises. We may need to do this again real soon depending on tomorrow night’s election results. Stay ready.