In this file photo the chambers at Toronto City Hall are seen on Tuesday, January 15, 2013.Michelle Siu/The Globe and Mail
The race is on to fill the vacant seat on Toronto city council and it is a crowded field, with 45 candidates vying for the job.
What's up for grabs is a one-year assignment – until the next municipal vote – representing Etobicoke residents in Ward 3, who have been without a councillor since former deputy mayor Doug Holyday's win in this summer's provincial by-election.
Council voted this summer to fill the post by appointment to save the cost of a by-election, over the wishes of Mayor Rob Ford.
The deadline for applications was noon Thursday, and the list of contenders includes a handful of familiar names – people who have already held public office. Among them is former Member of Parliament John Nunziata, the brother of Councillor Frances Nunziata and a former candidate for mayor, former provincial cabinet minister Chris Stockwell and Bruce Sinclair, who served as mayor of Etobicoke. Mario Giansante, a former Etobicoke city councillor is also on the list.
The field also includes long-time Etobicoke resident and volunteer Peter Leon, who has the endorsement of Mr. Holyday, and Toronto Police Constable Tony Vella, who has taken a leave to run for the post.
Ross Vaughan, a long-time friend of Mr. Ford, was the second candidate to file his papers and is one of just eight who live in the ward.
At city hall Thursday, Mr. Vella said he plans to run in the next municipal election whether or not he gets the appointment. He said that will make him more accountable. "I wouldn't want to do it for a year and just walk away from it," he said.
Mr. Nunziata said even though he has put his name on the list, he is still considering his options. A lobbyist, he would have to give up his business while in office and could not return to it for a year after leaving council. Mr. Nunziata said he would love to take the one-year assignment, but has no intention of running in next year's municipal election.
Now that the names are in, the first step in the selection process will take place Tuesday with a special meeting of the Etobicoke York Community Council. Each candidate will have five minutes to address the group, which currently has 10 members, one short of its full complement because of the vacancy in Ward 3. The mayor also is eligible to attend the meeting and cast a vote.
The successful candidate must gain the support of more than half of community council members. The group will continue voting until that benchmark is reached with ties determined by lot. The committee will then forward its recommendation to council.
Doug Ford, who as Etobicoke councillor will vote on candidates next week, said he totally disagrees with the process. Like his brother the mayor, he believes Mr. Holyday's replacement should have been chosen at the ballot box.
City Councillors will have the final say on the appointment at a special meeting on Oct. 10. Each candidate will again be given five minutes to address the meeting and must gain the support of more than half of councillors to be successful. Multiple rounds of voting may be held and ties decided by drawing lots.