Saturday November 8th, 2003

Toronto council's dream team

Throughout Toronto council's last term, we've argued repeatedly that council itself is dysfunctional - packed with politicians too quick to waste our money, raise taxes and whine for handouts from the province.

Now, with an election two days away, it's time to act. It's time to elect a new council that will change Toronto for the better. Under a new mayor - John Tory, we hope - we need a strong lineup of councillors, and that means getting rid of the weakest.

Yesterday, we offered our picks for the 10 open wards with no incumbents. Today, we deal with the 32 councillors seeking re-election (two more, David Shiner of Ward 24 - Willowdale, and Giorgio Mammoliti of Ward 7 - York West, have been acclaimed).

In our view, there are 11 wards desperately in need of new blood. They are:

Ward 1 - Etobicoke North: Coun. Suzan Hall has been lacklustre and disappointing. A better choice is Anthony Caputo, who favours freezing taxes.

Ward 8 - York West: Anthony Perruzza may be an NDPer (he's a former MPP), but he's got to be better than Coun. Peter Li Preti.

Ward 12 - York South-Weston: Coun. Frank Di Giorgio's not awful, but we have to love retired Catholic school board worker Joe Renda's pledge to give 25% of his council pay back to the ward.

Ward 16 - Eglinton-Lawrence: It's time to say goodbye to longtime Coun. Anne Johnston and bring in the sensible administrator Karen Stintz.

Ward 20 - Trinity-Spadina: Enough of Coun. Olivia Chow's bleeding heartism - the politically accomplished Sandra Anstey would bring a fresh outlook.

Ward 21 - St. Paul's: Businessman George Milne, who opposes the silly St. Clair streetcar lanes, is preferable to the big-spending Coun. Joe Mihevc.

Ward 27 - Toronto Centre-Rosedale: Why re-elect Coun. Kyle Rae when you can vote for drag queen Enza Anderson? Enza's fiscally sensible (s/he'll cut council office budgets), and s/he's got great legs.

Ward 28 - Toronto Centre-Rosedale: We like Pierre Klein, a former Peel councillor and trustee who has solid ideas on finances and the homeless, over tiresome NDP Coun. Pam McConnell.

Ward 32 - Beaches-East York: We prefer hardworking community volunteer and good performer Donna Braniff to Coun. Sandra Bussin.

Ward 39 - Scarborough-Agincourt: We strongly endorse sensible former Catholic school trustee Mike Del Grande to unseat Coun. Sherene Shaw.

Ward 44 - Scarborough East: Gay Cowbourne, a centrist community leader, would do a far better job than Coun. Ron Moeser.

Now for the councillors we'd like to see return - and, yes, there are a number of them.

We strongly support the re-election of the following, to provide council's fiscal backbone: Rob Ford (Ward 2 - Etobicoke North); Doug Holyday (Ward 3 - Etobicoke Centre); Frances Nunziata (Ward 11 - York South-Weston); Jane Pitfield (Ward 26 - Don Valley West); Case Ootes (Ward 29 - Toronto-Danforth); Denzil Minnan-Wong (Ward 34 - Don Valley East); and David Soknacki (Ward 43 - Scarborough East), who is our pick for the next budget chief.

We also support these councillors, with reservations: Gloria Lindsay Luby (Ward 4 - Etobicoke Centre); Peter Milczyn (Ward 5 - Etobicoke-Lakeshore); Michael Feldman (Ward 10 - York Centre); Joe Pantalone (Ward 19 - Trinity-Spadina); John Filion (Ward 23 - Willowdale); Michael Tziretas (Ward 31 - Beaches-East York); Gerry Altobello (Ward 35 - Scarborough Southwest); Brian Ashton (Ward 36 - Scarborough Southwest); Bas Balkissoon (Ward 41 - Scarborough-Rouge River).

And even though we rarely agree with them, we recommend the re-election of Howard Moscoe (Ward 15 - Eglinton-Lawrence) and Michael Walker (Ward 22 - St. Paul's) for their contribution to council.

That leaves three wards where, sorry, we can't bring ourselves to support the incumbent, but we can't see a clear alternative either. They are: Ward 9- York Centre (held by Maria Augimeri); Ward 40 - Scarborough-Agincourt (Norm Kelly); and Ward 42 - Scarborough-Rouge River (Raymond Cho). If you live in these wards, make the best choice you can - and hope for better luck next time.