Nov. 14th, 2006

rfmcdonald: (Default)
Since I didn't vote in yesterday's Toronto mayoral election, I hereby resign my right to complain about the outcome. Had I received my voter's card, had I taken some ID with me to the library, had I thought enough, I would have. Fortunately, the outcome was what I wanted.

Toronto voters have again put their trust in David Miller, giving the mayor a slightly more sympathetic council and a much-improved mandate that will strengthen his ability to pursue more government funding and increased powers for the city.

Mr. Miller cruised to re-election, taking close to double the votes of his nearest opponent. The result was a far cry from the drubbing suffered by Ottawa Mayor Bob Chiarelli, a two-term incumbent tossed out in favour of a successful businessman and political rookie.

[. . .]

Although criticized by some as underachieving in his first term, Mr. Miller was never seriously threatened. He secured 57-per-cent support, calling it a vote of confidence and pledging to push for a share of sales taxes.

"We will not take no for an answer," he told supporters at his victory party. "We will continue the battle for long-term sustainable funding for Toronto."

Mr. Miller's closest opponent was former city councillor Jane Pitfield, who scored 32 per cent of the vote. Stephen LeDrew, the former federal Liberal Party president, was far behind with 1.4 per cent.


Too, in my Ward 18, Davenport, my incumbent city councillor Adam Giambrone easily won reelection with 67% of the votes cast. Leaving his GLBT-friendliness and his generally well-thought policies on urban development aside, I was lucky enough to meet him. The right man won that election.

I was lucky but so, I suspect, was the large majority of Toronto's electorate. As Spacing's blog notes, in the 2003 elections only 32% of the electorate in Greater Toronto Area municipalities cast a vote.
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