May 4, 2006: THE TORONTO STAR

BY: Vanessa Lu

Surrounded by 200 cheering supporters in a small East York banquet hall, Toronto Councillor Jane Pitfield kicked off her low-budget mayoral campaign last night by attacking Mayor David Miller for "profound lack of leadership" that has brought in higher taxes and increased spending.

"David Miller has to go. Continuing with him will be bad news for Toronto," she said in her 20-minute speech. "There is no direction, no focus and no vision."

She argued the city is spending more than ever before — noting a 3 per cent property tax hike and TTC fare increase this year — but citizens are getting less in return.

"We are overtaxed," she said. "Toronto is badly managed."

Pitfield chose to kick off her campaign — which needs to raise at least $1 million to be viable — in the heart of her ward, in an old banquet hall in Thorncliffe Park — where a blown fuse meant no microphone. She pledged a grassroots campaign for the Nov. 13 election that would focus on:

·  Crime and violence

·  Homelessness and housing

·  Accountability

·  No tax increases

·  Garbage solution

·  Excellent services

Pitfield quickly noted that those six areas spell change, which she promised would be the hallmark of her campaign.

She plans to spend the next few months of the campaign — which traditionally doesn't heat up until after Labour Day — on a "listening tour." She's going to meet with residents, small business owners and community groups to hear their concerns.

During Miller's term, Pitfield argued, the city has declined in terms of public safety, economic health and world-stage recognition. She pointed to the gun violence last summer and the failure to attract businesses to the city. Throughout her speech, she made several references to Miller's promises to clean up the city — and his broom symbol from the 2003 campaign.

"The broom is broken and there is only a whisk left, one that is sweeping everything under the rug."

Pitfield, 52, who has been city councillor for Ward 26, Don Valley West, since 1998, admitted in an interview that she has an uphill battle to unseat an incumbent mayor. It's difficult, but not impossible — Barbara Hall defeated June Rowlands in 1994 and Art Eggleton defeated John Sewell in 1982.

Many who came out to hear Pitfield were from the neighbourhood, and some had personal examples of how Pitfield helped them with a constituency matter.

"If there's anything we can do, we'll be there," said Robert Rayner, of the Thorncliffe Garden Club, which Pitfield helped secure a community garden.

"She took the time to come out to our ravine cleanup last weekend. We thought it was nice of her to come, so we thought we would come," said Zulie Mohammed.

Few politicians turned up. Miller's campaign has many big names including co-chairs former Toronto mayor David Crombie and former premier David Peterson. Only two city councillors were at Pitfield's speech — Councillor Mike Del Grande and Councillor David Soknacki.

"I'm going to be supporting Jane," said Soknacki, who has been Miller's budget chief. "I have loyally served Mr. Miller as chair of budget committee, but I point out I did vote for John Tory."

Pitfield did not formally announce members of her team, emphasizing that she has not sought out big names to pad out a list.

They include Paul Henderson, who led Toronto's failed 1996 Olympic bid, Paul Oliver, who was campaign manager for Barbara Hall's 2003 mayoral bid, Leaside architect Agnes Vermes, and Shashi Bhatia, who has been a policy adviser on multicultural issues to Prime Minister Stephen Harper.

Former federal Tory candidate and television anchor Peter Kent introduced Pitfield, and John Foden, who worked on Miller's campaign last time around, urged people to donate money and volunteer for Pitfield.