October 15th, 2003: THE SCARBOROUGH MIRROR

Candidates make bid to replace outgoing councillors

DAVID BLUMENFELD

An increased number of Scarborough candidates running for city council should provide less certainty about who will come out on top in next month's municipal election.

This year, 38 candidates are vying for a spot on council in Scarborough's 10 wards, compared to 26 who filed nomination papers with the city in 2000.

The enlarged list offers voters a larger pool of candidates to choose from, but there are also a few other differences that should make the outcome on Nov. 10 less predictable.

Ward 43 incumbent David Soknacki (Scarborough East) was acclaimed in 2000 because no one campaigned against him, yet this year, Glenn Kitchen has decided to challenge him.

COUNCILLORS ELECTED MPPS

In another election twist, there will be no incumbents running for re-election in Wards 37 and 38 in Scarborough Centre. Both Lorenzo Berardinetti and Brad Duguid are leaving municipal politics for the Ontario Legislature after becoming Liberal MPPs with wins in the Oct. 2 provincial election.

Their victories leave both wards with a number of candidates seeking the council seats at Toronto City Hall.

In Ward 37 the candidates seeking to replace Berardinetti are Greg Crompton; David Finnamore; Georges Legault; Laura-Maria Nikolareizi; Andrew Schulz; Michael Thompson and Helen Zoubaniotis.

The candidates for Duguid's old Ward 38 seat are Michael Binetti; Glenn De Baeremaeker; Betty Hackett; Virginia Jones; Tom Palantaz and Willie Reodica.

Meanwhile, Ward 35 incumbent Gerry Altobello (Scarborough Southwest) is campaigning against Jason Carey; Peter Harris; Adrian Heaps; Kalonji Muteba; Barry Nicholson and Worrick Russell.

In Ward 36, Robert Scott will challenge incumbent Brian Ashton in Scarborough-Southwest.

In Scarborough-Agincourt, incumbent councillor Sherene Shaw will run against Mike Del Grande in Ward 39, while in Ward 40 incumbent Norm Kelly will run against Patrick McBrearty and Winston Ramjeet.

In Scarborough-Rouge River, Bas Balkissoon will attempt re-election against Sonny Yeung in Ward 41, while incumbent Raymond Cho will run against Akeem Fasasi and Paulette Senior in Ward 42.

In Ward 43, incumbent Ron Moeser (Scarborough East) will run against Donald Blair, Gay Cowbourne and William Sheehan.