A Sobering Thought-4 More Years Of NDP Incompotence

We might have lost the battle but not the war. I harken back to the morning after people voted for change and elected Dalton McGinty and we know what that got us......broken promises, more taxes, pit bull ban, etc. but ask the working poor or parents of autistic children or the disabled how much change they have seen. Miller and his cabal are no different. The only ones who have benefited from Miller's three lackluster years in office is city unions, environuts, panhandlers, etc.

EDITORIAL: The left’s big boss man

Toronto Mayor David Miller is more powerful today than he was yesterday.

Last night, almost six in 10 Torontonians who voted, re-elected Miller to a strong new four-year mandate.

Ironically, this was the same percentage of people who told pollsters during the campaign they thought the city needed a new mayor. But elections are about those who show up and last night they nudged council further left as most incumbents cruised to victory.

Former Coun. Jane Pitfield, who warned that a vote for Miller was a vote for stagnation and higher taxes wasn’t humiliated, capturing more than 30% of the vote. Even so, the race was over within minutes of the polls closing.

A huge blow to council’s right wing appeared to have been narrowly averted last night with former deputy mayor Case Ootes’ 20-vote victory over NDP newcomer Diane Alexopoulos in Ward 29.

Voters also elected environmentalist Gord Perks, Miller’s hand-picked candidate in Ward 14, another indication of the mayor’s power.

In Ward 21, key Miller NDP ally Joe Mihevc, prime mover behind the controversial St. Clair transit right of way, easily swept aside challenges from former mayor John Sewell on the left and former councillor John Adams on the right. Expect Miller to use that vote to argue for even more car-hating projects.

Miller backer Howard Moscoe, the bombastic and controversial NDP incumbent in Ward 15, easily won re-election - more good news for the mayor.

In a rare defeat for the NDP, former City-TV reporter Adam Vaughan easily bested NDP challenger Helen Kennedy, Olivia Chow’s former executive assistant in Chow’s former Ward 20, But Vaughan is still a left winger, likely to support Miller on many issues.

And in Ward 8, NDPer Anthony Perruzza was poised to defeat incumbent Peter Li Preti.

A bit of good news for the right wing of council was the election of former Mike Harris Conservative MPP John Parker in Pitfield’s old Ward 26 seat.

But make no mistake. Miller and council’s left-wing made big gains last night, leaving the mayor well-positioned to press his demands for more money from Ottawa and Queen’s Park.

Don’t say we didn’t warn you.