Rating City Hall's Class of '03

From her perspective as Sun City Hall columnist, Sue-Ann Levy has prepared a report card on each of Toronto's 42 councillors as they near the end of their three-year term

The term is nearly done here at the kindergarten classroom we call City Hall, and once again councillors are getting set to woo you for your vote.

It's been a disastrous term for the leadership-challenged Mayor Mel Lastman and his dysfunctional council, who've fumbled crisis after crisis and were all but asleep when the SARS outbreak devastated this city's economy.

Meanwhile, property taxes have shot up 12.8% in the past three years as Toronto decays to a state never before seen.

Lastman has wisely decided not to seek another term. But most councillors are planning to run again, although most, in my view, deserve to be fired. (All are running in November, unless otherwise noted below.)

With that in mind, here is my final report card on this council. With help from my colleague, Sun bureau chief Zen Ruryk, I've evaluated every councillor, except for interim reps Laura Jones and Fred Dominelli, who were appointed to fill the vacancies left by Jack Layton and Betty Disero earlier this year.

The criteria I've used for grading involve how councillors perform on issues of city-wide interest, as opposed to local matters in their wards.

Have they been fiscally responsible and concerned with funding the city's core services? Or are they focused only on their next taxpayer-funded junket and pet projects?

Are they in touch with what's wrong with this city? Have they put forward any creative ideas to fix gridlock, homelessness, litter and a whole host of other problems? Or do they just warm their council seats, occasionally grandstanding for the TV cameras?

Here's how they fared, in alphabetical order.

* * *

Gerry Altobello, Ward 35 (Scarborough Southeast): As planning and transportation committee chairman, he had a chance to tackle gridlock and the over-condoing of this city. But he didn't do much except warm the chairman's chair. Gets some marks for being frugal. C-

Brian Ashton, Ward 36 (Scarborough Southeast): It's been a frustrating year for the former TTC chairman who's been sidelined for criticizing Lastman's lack of leadership. A fan of alternative service delivery (contracting out), he would shine under a more cost-conscious, less divisive regime. B+

Maria Augimeri, Ward 9 (York Centre): We rarely hear from this queen of melodrama unless she's shedding a tear for her pet causes. Essentially a lemming who always votes with her NDP pals, she wouldn't be missed in a downsized council. F

Bas Balkissoon, Ward 41 (Scarborough-Rouge River): He has done a terrific job as chairman of the audit committee and has gone to bat many times for auditor Jeff Griffiths in his efforts to make city affairs more transparent. A-

Lorenzo Berardinetti, Ward 37 (Scarborough Centre): Once an effective councillor, he seemed to lose interest in council business more than a year ago when he decided to run provincially. He should have stepped down. His constituents deserve better. D

Sandra Bussin, Ward 32 (Beaches-East York): This smog-hating champagne socialist is renowned for pushing bike lanes, public transit and speed humps while motoring to City Hall from the Beaches in her late-model BMW. Usually spends to the limit of her office budget, arguing her ward is the busiest in the city. D+

Raymond Cho, Ward 42 (Scarborough-Rouge River): A vigorous self-promoter who's already spent $36,401 of his office budget this year, he talks a blue streak at council. But what he contributes to the greater good of this city is beyond me. Another good reason to downsize council. F

Olivia Chow, Ward 20 (Trinity-Spadina): The hardworking leftist is in her element as chairman of the community services committee, throwing pots of money at the poor ex-Tent-City folk and a long list of kids' programs. Why worry about core services when there are causes to fund? C+

Frank DiGiorgio, Ward 12 (York South Weston): He's perfectly harmless. But that's the problem. He's failed to capture anyone's attention. C-

Brad Duguid, Ward 38 (Scarborough-Centre): Much like the actress Sally Field, he just wants you to like him. He did a pretty good job as chairman of the works committee. But it is not clear yet what he's planning politically. He's signed up to run in both the provincial and municipal elections. B+

Mike Feldman, Ward 10 (York Centre): A Lastman crony, he should take the mayor's lead and call it a day. Seems completely disinterested at council meetings. Only gets a gleam in his eye when he's set to jet off on a taxpayer-funded junket. But he gets some marks for his efforts to promote the film industry. C-

John Filion, Ward 23 (Willowdale): A total dud this term. Wouldn't be missed on a downsized council. F

Joanne Flint, Ward 25 (Don Valley West): She's awfully hard to follow sometimes but at least she sticks to her guns. Regularly takes transit to City Hall, unlike most of her council colleagues. C+

Rob Ford, Ward 2 (Etobicoke North): Despite his unpolished delivery, the fastidiously frugal Ford deserves top marks for making it his mission to cut council's perqs. Repeatedly ridiculed for his efforts, he spent a measly $5 of his office budget to June 30. Keep it up, Rob! A-

Suzan Hall, Ward 1 (Etobicoke North): A newcomer to council who still hasn't established a strong presence. Was incensed by the idea of Rob Ford using his own money to buy office supplies. D+

Doug Holyday, Ward 3 (Etobicoke Centre): The penny-pinching administration committee chairman successfully stickhandled the difficult Union Station deal through council. Not afraid to stand up to the unions or question council's frivolous spending. Would make a good deputy mayor. A

Anne Johnston, Ward 16 (Eglinton-Lawrence): The veteran councillor has clearly gone beyond her useful shelf life. She appears no longer up to the challenge. At council meetings, she seems muddled. Strongly backed the huge Minto condo development at Yonge and Eglinton. F

Irene Jones, Ward 2 (Etobicoke-Lakeshore): A washout as council's water advocate, this CUPE union booster helped scuttle plans for a special water board to take charge of overhauling the city's rusty sewer pipes. Thankfully, she's decided to test the provincial election waters this time. D-

Norm Kelly, Ward 40 (Scarborough-Agincourt): A self-styled intellectual but really a crushing bore when he stands up to make his pronouncements at council. He is redeemed only by his strong stance against the anti-pesticides wingnuts and the fact that he landed on the right side of many issues. D

Chris Korwin-Kuczynski, Ward 14 (Parkdale-High Park): The man who never misses a good party, or special event, has made little impact at council this term. Perhaps it's time to dust off that naval uniform, Chris. I'm sure there's a ship docked at Queen's Quay that could use your services. D

Gloria Lindsay Luby, Ward 4 (Etobicoke-Centre): The acting head of the police services board would have some potential if she weren't such a Lastman lapdog. Some marks for her stance against tearing down the Gardiner Expressway. C-

Peter LiPreti, Ward 8 (York West): The only time he made an impact recently was when he dressed up in a litter picker's fluorescent jumpsuit at May's "Don't Trash Toronto" campaign launch. Looked about as silly as some of the remarks he makes at council. F

Giorgio Mammoliti, Ward 7 (York West): Council's perennial top spender and self-promoter recently changed his name to Giorgio to reflect his Italian roots in time for November's election. Only redeeming quality is his dedication to improving the zoo's profile. D

Pam McConnell, Ward 28 (Toronto Centre Rosedale): Who can forget her mean-spirited, hysterical motion last October forcing Rob Ford to use his office budget instead of his own money for supplies? Need I say more? D-

Joe Mihevc, Ward 21 (St Paul's): As board of health chairman, Mihevc led the ridiculous effort to ban pesticides. One of council's biggest spenders, he used the SARS crisis and fears about the West Nile virus to bolster the health board's already filled-to-overflowing coffers. D+

Peter Milczyn, Ward 5 (Etobicoke-Lakeshore): Gets marks for his fiscal conservatism. But we can't think of much he has championed except for his call to review the controversial condo developments in Yorkville. C

David Miller, Ward 13 (Parkdale-High Park): This mayoral wannabe gets credit for shining a light on the city's sordid business affairs. But he's far too cozy with the unions, who've already got a stranglehold here. If elected mayor, I have no doubt costs for basic services would go up. B-

Denzil Minnan-Wong, Ward 34 (Don Valley East): Travelled extensively this term on taxpayer-funded junkets. But when the SARS crisis hit, this economic development committee chairman seemed to have no clue how to rescue Toronto's tourism fortunes. D+

Ron Moeser, Ward 44 (Scarborough East): This supposedly fiscally responsible councillor from the 'burbs has been a big disappointment on budget committee. Rarely offers up any good ideas. D-

Howard Moscoe, Ward 15 (Eglinton-Lawrence): There's no doubt the mischievous Moscoe is a hard worker. Problem is, he spends far too much time fighting proposals to cut council perks and dreaming up new schemes to ding the taxpayer. Leading by example seems foreign to this big spender. C

Frances Nunziata, Ward 11 (York South-Weston): A frugal, hands-on councillor who has fought repeatedly to cut council's office budgets. Works hard, has good attendance at council meetings and practises what she preaches. Spent only $915 of her office budget to June 30. B+

Case Ootes, Ward 29 (Toronto-Danforth): The deputy mayor deserves top marks for his heroic efforts to maintain sanity at City Hall and for keeping the peace while chairing fractious council meetings. The mayor owes him plenty. A

Joe Pantalone, Ward 19 (Trinity-Spadina): While I disagree with this NDPer's stance on just about everything - banning pesticides, speed humps, closing the Island Airport - he's a true gentleman and is articulate when he speaks. Does good work as the city's tree advocate. B-

Jane Pitfield, Ward 26 (Don Valley West): One of council's hardest workers, she has fought doggedly to streamline the city's budget. Applies her eagle budget eye to the board of health, the homeless advisory committee and other lefty causes. A-

Kyle Rae, Ward 27 (Toronto Centre-Rosedale): This downtown dweller seems to have little interest in tackling the homeless/panhandling problem in his ward. Spends much of his time on council lobbying for more handouts for his artsy friends. Can be nasty if challenged. D+

Sherene Shaw, Ward 39 (Scarborough-Agincourt): She has already spent $41,042 of her office budget this year, but rarely shifts her gaze beyond Scarberia when she's in town. Is often heard carrying on about how hard she works and how few services come to her neck of the woods. F

David Shiner, Ward 24 (Willowdale): If only the budget chief had devoted as much creative energy to making tough choices as he did to shining up his media profile and whining to the province for more handouts, this city wouldn't be in such a financial mess. He's in over his head. C-

Mario Silva, Ward 18 (Davenport): A lacklustre councillor and Liberal lackey, Silva is leaving municipal politics to seek fame and fortune on the federal stage. To my mind, he's a walking example of the Peter Principle in action. F

David Soknacki, Ward 43 (Scarborough Southeast): This MBA graduate is one of the most underrated members of council. Worked tirelessly on the budget committee to try to find cuts. If he'd just show more fortitude when it comes to selling his ideas. Would make a good budget chief. A-

Paul Sutherland, Ward 33 (Don Valley East): Too bad he has decided to run provincially. He's one of the few members of council to offer creative solutions to tackle the city's homeless, financial and gridlock problems. A savvy politician, he did a valiant job of trying to fill the leadership void. A

Mike Tziretas (Beaches-East York): Failed to stand up to council's free spenders and show some fiscal restraint. A budget committee member, he actually lobbied to reinstate councillors' office budgets after they were cut by administration committee. A real disappointment. F

Michael Walker, Ward 22 (St. Paul's): Council's gadfly, Walker has been a constant thorn in Lastman's side. Took a strong stand against the Minto development at Yonge and Eglinton and fought to bring back ethics to council's way of doing business. In a little too tight with the tenant groups for our liking, however. C