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Feb 16 - Feb 23,2003 |
Vaughan on first elections since Jackson
The City Above Toronto has candidates carefully preparing for next November's votes
By Francesco Riondino
Originally Published: 2003-02-09
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Joyce Frustaglio Gino Rosati New nominee
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No fewer than 15 candidates ran in the last by-election, a clear sign of interest in the City of Vaughan, but the seats are few (the mayor, three regional councillors - one just replaced - and five city councillors) and this will make for a hot election.
Moreover, next November's election will be unusual as it will be the first without Lorna Jackson, after 21 years of her uninterrupted rule. Following her death last year, the mayoralty passed to Michael Di Biase, who will now run for mayor boasting the results he achieved during this period.
Some claim that Jackson's daughter, Linda, currently councillor for Ward 2, would be ready to follow in her mother's footsteps, but other people are advising her instead to run for one of the regional councillor seats.
What's more, York Region has just granted the citizens of Vaughan a third councillor. The new seat could turn out to be a real wild card for the next election, being coveted by many and freeing new paths to a seat in the City Council.
The possibility of Linda Jackson running for that seat is exactly what would convince Tony Carella to run for Ward 2. "In the last by-election," says Carella, "I came a close second. If Linda does not run I would be in the best position, but I do not rule out running anyway, I'm considering my options. But it's too early for a final decision yet."
Everybody's contemplating, but nobody declared yet. In any case, the tension is palpable, and electoral alliances are being formed amid espressos and doughnuts.
Someone who seems hard at work is Nadia Magarelli, who would like to challenge Bernie Di Vona in Ward 3. Di Vona is currently at the centre of an investigation about a Vaughan Hydro cheque, which will leave him weakened even if he was to come out of it exonerated. "There is still a lot more to do for improving the services offered to our people," says Di Vona, "and I will not refuse the challenge."
On the other hand, Mario G. Racco is not even thinking about the November elections; his thoughts are currently focused on the campaign for the Provincial Parliament, where he is running for the Liberals. He will have to run against Tina Molinari, and the battle will be very hot; Molinari starts with a ministerial post in her bag, but Racco is so popular that he was acclaimed, rather than elected, in the last municipal election.
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