Scarborough school trustee and past Catholic board chair Mike Del Grande has decided to shift career paths and will challenge incumbent city councillor Sherene Shaw in November's municipal election.

Del Grande, a nine-year trustee and 20-year resident of the ward, has registered to run for the Ward 39 Scarborough Agincourt seat represented by Shaw, the city's diversity advocate for the past 15 years.

"I live, work, shop and worship in this community," Del Grande said. "I offer my service to this wonderful community of which I am so proud to have been a resident for the past 20 years."

In a direct shot at Shaw's residency outside the ward, Del Grande said it is important to have someone familiar with the area as its council representative.

But Shaw dismissed that criticism as "a farce".

"I think he's grasping at straws," she said. "I've represented my constituents for the last 15 years and that has not been an issue at all."

Shaw, who has lived in Scarborough for more than 30 years, said her decision to live five minutes outside the ward in the McCowan and Ellesmere roads area is based on familial responsibility to her elderly parents.

"It's important to live near my parents because they need to have their family nearby," she said. "I don't want to abandon my parents and that's why I live in their neighbourhood."

Del Grande's political roots are at the community association level and, with a background in chartered accountancy, has a reputation as being one of the most knowledgeable and fiscally aware trustees on the Catholic board.

Shaw said she's not concerned about his challenge though.

"I don't believe he poses a threat to me," she stated. "I welcome anyone who wants to exercise their democratic right to run for office."

In a family-related twist, Del Grande's son John, a fraud analyst with a major Canadian bank, will seek the Ward 7 seat on the Catholic board.