NEW FACES OF COUNCIL
Balance of power at city hall may lie in hands of small group of political newcomers
The jockeying for votes has already begun on Toronto’s new city council as old and new colleagues look to form alliances in a much smaller arena.
On Tuesday, 32-year-old Councillor Brad Bradford’s phone was ringing off the hook just hours after he pulled off one of the narrowest victories of Monday night’s election. As one of four new faces on a 25-member council, he is now in the unique position of helping to decide the balance of power in Canada’s largest city.
But as he fields calls from new colleagues and constituents, the rookie Beaches—East York councillor made clear on day one that he’ll gladly hear
anyone out, as Mayor John Tory tries to build a majority of right-leaning, largely suburban support for the next four years. “I’m not such a hard-line ideologue that I can’t listen to feedback and adjust a position accordingly,” Bradford said in an interview.
The Star has categorized the political leanings of the new council, based on criteria as their voting records and allegiances in previous terms. Without official political parties at city hall, no vote is ever assured for either side. Left Gord Perks Anthony Perruzza Joe Cressy Mike Layton Josh Matlow Kristyn Wong-Tam Paula Fletcher Shelley Carroll John Filion Unknown Mike Colle Brad Bradford Cynthia Lai Jennifer McKelvie Right Michael Ford Stephen Holyday Mark Grimes Frances Nunziata James Pasternak Ana Bailao Jaye Robinson Denzil Minnan-Wong Gary Crawford Michael Thompson Jim Karygiannis Paul Ainslie John Tory
“I will work with the mayor on the big issues — I want to make this council work for sure — but I don’t owe anybody anything.” MIKE COLLE EGLINTON-LAWRENCE