Larry Di Ianni Sworn In as Mayor

For the first time in Hamilton's history an Italian-Canadian elected in highest office

I'm ready to face the challenge of the economic and social development of our city," said Hamilton's new mayor Larry Di Ianni.
Since last week, Hamilton, the Iron City, Canada's most important steel-working site, has a mayor of Italian origin. Larry Di Ianni, who won last November's election, was sworn in in front of about 100 guests who cheered him with a long ovation.
Cheers will soon be over, though, and Di Ianni has been preparing his plan for the future of the city. He began, not unlike Toronto's mayor did, with meeting all MPs and MPPs representing Hamilton.
"Solving the problems of this city would be very hard without them," remarked Di Ianni. All those problems stem from one common root: the lack of funds, due to a deficit of around $50 million that imperils many social initiatives.
According to Di Ianni, "hoping to cancel the deficit by raising taxes would be tantamount to suicide, as well as immoral, as the case of seniors overtaxed just because they own a house they built with a lifetime of hard work."
Di Ianni is aware of the difficulties, but adds, "I'm ready to take the helm of this city, as I feel energetic and optimistic."
The new mayor mentioned approaching members of the Provincial Government, "particularly minister Greg Sorbara, while on December 16 I will meet premier McGuinty here in Hamilton." In regards to the Federal Government, Di Ianni is more prudent, "as I intend to wait until the new Martin cabinet is unveiled. I feel confident in the co-operation of all local MPs, be they in the cabinet or not."
As far as immediate programs are concerned, "clearly after discussing our financial situation with the other government levels," one of the first priorities is the construction of a new highway of about 8 kilometres, the Red Hill Express Way. "People have been talking of this highway for over 50 years now," said Di Ianni, "but it has never been built. This time we mean business, as the community elected me to have it built. I've always been in favour of it, and now I will act upon this conviction."
Di Ianni is obviously satisfied with the results of the last election, for several reasons. "One of these reasons is the great support I received not just from the Italian-Canadian community but from across all the ethnic groups making up the ethno-cultural mosaic of our city."
The mayor added that all those groups always felt like an integral part of the social and political fabric of the city, "but clearly they feel they contributed to my getting elected, and this strengthens everybody's integration in the whole."
Di Ianni, already a Hamilton City Councillor under the previous administration, defeated David Christopherson, former NDP MPP, after a long and hard-fought campaign.

Publication Date: 2003-12-14
Story Location: http://tandemnews.com/viewstory.php?storyid=3466