Residents in Toronto’s Don Valley West have elected Rachel Chernos Lin as their new city councillor following a byelection.
The byelection for Ward 15 was held Monday to replace the late Jaye Robinson, who passed away earlier this year. Robinson had represented the ward for more than a decade.
Lin was a Toronto District School Board chair and a former trustee for the board.
According to the election results, Lin won with 12,899 votes, almost 55 per cent. She beat out media personality Anthony Furey who came in second place and received 31 per cent of the vote, or 7,343 votes.
The day after her win — and before she is officially sworn in at city hall — Lin told Global News the work had already started.
“I have to get my staff in order, (I’m) already working on all of those pieces so I can hit the ground running,” she said.
“I’m already getting emails about projects that are underway where there are decisions that are going to be made soon. I gotta get up to speed on those, and I gotta get sworn in and truly get up to speed.”
Despite Lin’s enthusiasm, residents may have to be patient. Former city councillor Joe Mihevc, who also joined partway through a council session, said it always takes time to get up to speed.
“Let her find the washrooms, let her get a bit of orientation and I’m sure she’ll get back to them,” he said. “But it’s going to take a while for her to find her feet.”
Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow has welcomed Lin to her council and told reporters she believes she will be able to work well with her.
Lin will be sworn in at Toronto city council’s next meeting.