![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
rfmcdonaldWhatever people may say about Toronto's election, they can't say it wasn't a triumph of democracy.
Ford didn't win because enough people didn't show up to counter a candidate who took advantage of low voter turn-out. Ford won, rather, because the people who did turn out in larger-than-expected numbers to vote voted disproportionately for him. By a large plurality, Toronto's electorate wanted Ford; certainly, Toronto's electorate got him.
Voter turnout in Toronto jumped in the 2010 municipal election that saw Rob Ford ushered in as mayor Tuesday, hitting 53.2 per cent compared to 39 per cent in 2006 and 38 per cent in 2003.
With 99.9 per cent of polls reporting Monday, Ford garnered 47.1 per cent of the vote, compared to 35.6 per cent for former provincial Liberal cabinet minister George Smitherman.
Joe Pantalone, deputy mayor under Mayor David Miller, who didn't run again, trailed with 11.7 per cent.
"This victory is a clear call from the taxpayers," Ford said during his victory speech. "Enough is enough, and that's exactly what we're going to give them. We're gonna respect the taxpayers of the city."
Advanced polling turnout also hit a record this year with more than 77,000 people showing up — almost double over 2006.
Ford didn't win because enough people didn't show up to counter a candidate who took advantage of low voter turn-out. Ford won, rather, because the people who did turn out in larger-than-expected numbers to vote voted disproportionately for him. By a large plurality, Toronto's electorate wanted Ford; certainly, Toronto's electorate got him.
