Voters stick with what they know best

Joe DiPaola says he will focus on taxes, subway and community safety

Richmond Hill voters chose to stick with what they know when they cast their municipal election ballots this week, but some are predicting interesting times ahead.

All incumbents, including Mayor David Barrow, were voted back into office along with two former councillors who now hold regional-council positions, taking seats left vacant after the two longtime councillors, Brenda Hogg and Vito Spatafora, opted not to seek reelection.

Joe DiPaola, a local councillor from 1998 to 2006, who ran unsuccessfully for the federal Conservatives, won 11,758 votes (22.35 per cent) and Carmine Perrelli, former Ward 2 councillor from 2010 to 2014, who ran unsuccessfully for mayor in 2014, won 11,418 votes (21.71 per cent).

This new role will be a “step up,” Di Paola said. “It’s a big responsibility but I’m sure with my experience, I will be a strong advocate for Richmond Hill.”

He said he will focus on his mandate to freeze taxes, get the subway to Richmond Hill and improve community safety.

In Ward 5, Karen Cilevitz faced a stiff fight waged primarily on social media, but still managed to win in all her polling stations with 3,137 votes, compared to former councillor Nick Papa’s 2,247 — leaving her as the only female on council.

Cilevitz expressed her appreciation for voter support and vowed to focus on ensuring intensification and infrastructure meets residents’ needs, but her partner, Derek Christie, had a less positive view of the result, saying, “after being followed, hacked, threatened … lied about, libeled and smeared … the people have spoken.” Many in the community saw the results as a sign voters are leaning toward more conservative values and a focus on budgets and taxes, while a few voiced concern that council will be more fractured.

Cherniak, whose endorsements showed his Liberal leanings, noted three regional councillors who ranked above him were Conservatives and many residents who asked his affiliation were looking for Conservatives.

Barrow said council will do well despite the divergent opinions, “as long as we’re focused on the task at hand. Less reacting and more proacting.”