After a three-month nomination period, more than a dozen people have registered to run for mayor, but seven of the city’s 25 districts have only one candidate so far. Under Ontario’s Municipal Elections Act, whoever runs in an unchallenged ward is immediately declared the winner on the Monday after nominations close, eliminating the need for an election — and the opportunity for residents to participate in choosing who represents them. The state of Toronto’s nominations has political scientists and even some candidate councilors worried. “I think it’s a sad situation for Toronto,” said Myer Siemiatycki, professor emeritus at the Metropolitan University of Toronto. “Democracy doesn’t work well when the people don’t participate, where there’s no accountability loop. And that’s what we’re looking at now,” he said. He said the lack of challengers should not be taken as an indication that incumbents have the full enthusiastic support of residents, but instead may indicate the job is unwanted. Registration for candidates opened on May 2 and closes on August 19 at 2 PM
Single candidates welcome competition
Longtime Scarborough Center councilor Michael Thompson said he had never found himself running unopposed so late. He told CBC Toronto that he’s encouraged a lot of people to run for council, but there haven’t been any real bites in his ward. The prospect of an easier ride doesn’t leave him drooling. Michael Thompson currently has no challenger for his seat, but says he would welcome a challenger. (Submitted by: Michael Thompson) “I’m happy to have competition,” he said. “I’m glad to open the team because it means that, you know, people are working out and they’re energized and ready to go.” Thompson said he has stopped accepting campaign donations given the uncertainty of whether a race will take place, but will kick things up a notch if a challenger signs up. “It’s ready to go. All I have to do is push a button.” Etobicoke Center incumbent Stephen Holyday has been the only candidate registered in his ward for more than two months, but he doesn’t think it will stay that way. “In a city of three million people with 25 council seats, it’s unrealistic to think they would be uncontested,” Holliday said. He said he “fully expects to engage in a competitive campaign” and looks forward to the discussions that will come from that process. Meanwhile, Don Mills President of Residents Inc. Stephen Ksiazek hopes to fill Don Valley East’s position. Long-serving councilor Denzil Minan-Wong announced three weeks ago that he would not seek re-election in the ward. So far, no one else is trying to challenge Ksiazek, who told a non-establishment ward he doesn’t expect that to last. “There are going to be some people who think it’s a little easier to go up against a non-incumbent,” he says. “And I think you’re going to see people come in…but that doesn’t make a difference to me—I’m going to keep working.” Candidate Stephen Ksiazek figures to have competition in a ward with no incumbent running for his seat. (Submitted by: Stephen Ksiazek) Incumbent councilors Paula Fletcher, Shelley Carroll, Brad Bradford and Paul Ainslie are also running unopposed so far in Toronto-Danforth, Don Valley North, Beech-East York and Scarborough-Guildwood, respectively.
Slow for serious campaigning
Candidates must register by August 19. Alex Burke, a city spokesman, told CBC Toronto that candidate registration has been slower than in previous elections, but has accelerated as the deadline nears. More nominations are expected in the next two weeks, Burke said. John Bebee, director of the Democratic Engagement Exchange at Metropolitan University of Toronto, said if candidates enter this late stage, it may indicate they are not serious. “They should be organizing their campaign teams, going out talking to people, raising money — everything they need to do to run a credible campaign,” he said. The perception that any competition that exists isn’t serious isn’t good for anyone, he said. “If you’re a candidate who feels like you don’t have serious challengers, of course you’re not going to run the same kind of campaign,” Bebee said. “And campaigns aren’t just about winning elections, they’re an opportunity for people to talk to their representatives, an opportunity to advocate for the issues.”
