Race for change at City Hall begins

Josh Matlow, the public-school trustee who wants a seat at city council, had to wait a bit to file his nomination papers because he was stuck in line at City Hall’s Election Services office Monday behind the Men With Red Scarves.

The four-member red scarf crew, whose garb announced their affiliation (Liberal) and protected them from the cold snap, had come down from the wilds of Downsview to back their council candidate, insurance broker Gus Cusimano, who seeks to dethrone Councillor Maria Augimeri in Ward 9, York Centre.

"We have been neglected in our community," said Tony Di Santo, who owns a body shop, Florida Garage Ltd., and who gained fame in the wake of the Sunrise Propane explosion, when Ms. Augimeri famously told him to "shut up" at a public meeting.

"City council needs a big change in direction," Mr. Cusimano said, after paying his $100 and filing his nomination papers. "It’s been rudderless for the last little while."

The fresh candidates carried an icy wind in through the doors of City Hall Monday as they arrived in droves to register; talk of change was in the air, and several top veterans on council face stiff challenges, among them Howard Moscoe (Eglinton-Lawrence), Michael Walker (St. Paul’s) and Raymond Cho (Scarborough-Rouge River).

The last council meeting of 2009, which dragged on more than a week with debates on ice time for girls and the like, is fresh in the minds of many aspirants. These outsiders carry with them the legitimate aspirations of citizens who can imagine City Hall as an agent of change, not stasis, and of reduced spending rather than new taxes.

One of those aspirants is Rob Davis. Mr. Davis served 1991-2000 as a councillor in the old City of York and in Toronto. In 2008 he was appointed to the Toronto Catholic District School Board. Now he is taking on Mr. Moscoe in Ward 15.

"There’s a generational difference between Howard and I," said Mr. Davis, a member of the provincial and federal Conservative parties. "Howard’s in his seventies. I’m 45. There’s a new way of doing business."

Another fresh face belonged to Rocco Rossi, an entrepreneur and former head of the federal Liberals, who became the first mayoralty candidate to file his nomination papers. "I’m looking forward to a very exciting race of high-quality people," said Mr. Rossi, who will lay out his platform during a Jan. 21 speech to the Empire Club.

George Smitherman, former Ontario deputy premier, resigned his seat on Sunday and is expected to file his mayoralty nomination papers today or tomorrow.

But the old guard on council is not giving up without a fight. As Mr. Moscoe filed his nomination papers, a reporter asked whether council needs fresh faces. He replied: "I’m waiting for Hazel McCallion to retire, and then I’ll consider retiring."

Others see the benefit of change. Councillor Joe Mihevc (St. Paul’s) threw his weight behind Mr. Matlow, his local Toronto District School Board trustee. "I think he’s going to win that one," Mr. Mihevc said. "He’s a go-getter. He gets in there, and that’s what we need. I think Michael Walker will bow out so he doesn’t have to be taken out." Mr. Walker did not return calls.

Mr. Cho, a 20-year veteran councillor inScarborough, faces a threat from Shamoon Poonawala, 29, a father of two in the new community of Rougeville at the city’s northeast tip.

"Raymond is just a grandpa," Mr. Poonawala added. "He goes around and says hello to everyone. Nice guy is one thing, and voicing concerns is another."

Budget chief Shelley Carroll, TTC chairman Adam Giambrone, Councillor Michael Thompson(Scarborough Centre) and former PC leader John Tory — all of whom are weighing mayoral bids — did not make their intentions known yesterday. Eight others did join the mayoral race, including Sarah Thomson, publisher of the Women’s Post.

Toronto will get a new mayor this year. If council changes too, the city could see a much-needed change in direction.

"I hope that 10 to 12 new councillors will come to City Hall," Mr. Matlow said. "Even if we disagree on nine out of 10 things, let’s find the one thing we agree on. I want to see some substantive change."