The Operative Word Is MAYBE An That Is A Tradegy

Taking out City Hall's trash

Following a strike and looming budget crisis, councillors may find the 2010 election nasty

By ROB GRANATSTEIN, EDITOR

Torontonians are about to face a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

A chance to slay the dragon.

An opportunity to touch the municipally untouchable.

In 2010, the incumbent city councillor may finally become an endangered species.

Politicians who have been in power so long you'd think they were part of the original City Hall furniture designed by Viljo Revell, may finally find their cloak of invincibility on the fritz.

Politicians like Howard Moscoe, who romped in the 2003 election while campaigning (lightly) from his hospital bed. Moscoe's been cemented to his council chair for more than 30 years.

Call them the sense-of-entitlement crowd, like Deputy Mayor Joe Pantalone, who bounce around this city as if they own it, creating personal fiefdoms and playgrounds, such as Exhibition Place. As it was their right to rule. Who blow off opposition with a simple "I-told-you-so" attitude, even when they are obviously wrong -- and the city ombudsman confirms their wayward ways.

But that confidence and swagger is looking increasingly vulnerable.

Finally, after a 39-day civic workers' strike this summer, the populace may actually turn out next election out and speak up. May show their frustrations.

Well, a guy can hope, right?

A LIFE BEYOND CITY HALL

Ironically, the politicians you don't want to leave, like sensible former city budget chief David Soknacki, do depart from City Hall on their own accord because they have a life beyond the two towers. Because being a politician doesn't define them.

Then there's the rest of them.

Pantalone, who is coming up on 30 years in city politics, became the disappearing man as a suddenly-motivated Christie Pits neighbourhood fought back against their park becoming a dumping ground during the strike. With chants including, "Liar, liar Pants-alone on fire," residents raged against "Joe Pants" for telling them the city assured him the park wouldn't be used for a dump, only to see it declared trash turnover turf, anyway.

Pantalone issued a statement, then hid behind the piles.

Miller refused to back Pantalone on this one -- a rare parting of the paths for the mayor and his deputy.

Or Sandra Bussin, who rules from the speaker's chair only looking sympathetically to her friends on the left, while playing favourites back in her own neighbourhood.

What about councillors who didn't bother to show up to vote on the contract with the city's unions, like Gloria Lindsay Luby, John Filion, Giorgio Mammoliti and Kyle Rae? Mammoliti, Filion and Lindsay Luby have said they would have voted "no" if they'd shown -- but why do that and run counter to the mayor?

Or those who closed their offices completely?

It's time for voters to fight back.

We've seen incumbents fall before. But it's rare.

And don't think it's easy.

The most recent example is Karen Stintz's 2003 rise to power in Eglinton-Lawrence, dusting off council vet Anne Johnston in the process.

But it took a concerted campaign from the community against a massive project, the Minto Towers at Yonge and Eglinton, to get the job done.

It hasn't hurt that Stintz has turned out to a solid player at City Hall.

A LOCAL STAR

It takes a candidate of that calibre, or an already-established community leader, a local star, to knock off even a politician whom many in the ward may view as the most hated politician around.

The reason is that the incumbent comes into any race with all the jujubes in the candy store. An office budget that's often used as a promotional tool. Name recognition. A tested election team in place. Media contacts and exposure. The list goes on.

Plus, getting kicked out of a job that pays $100,000 a year and into a world of uncertainty, certainly will not be welcomed by the political lifers -- many of them unemployable elsewhere, from what we've seen.

Put that together with the numbers -- Pantalone claimed 76% of the votes in 2006, Bussin 70%, Moscoe 47%, the underwhelming Raymond Cho doubled his nearest competitor -- and you see what a challenge it is to upset the reigning champion.

Most of the truly interesting candidates in the last election barely mustered a vote total beyond friends and family.

But, with the strike and the expected city budget disaster looming next year, the stars may finally align, and that could mean tough campaigning for the long-time stars of City Hall's soap opera.

Taking out lefty councillors is also a way to chip away at Mayor David Miller's power base in 2010, whether he wins or loses.

Will one of the long-time councillors finally lose their post? I can firmly say ... maybe.

ROB.GRANATSTEIN@SUNMEDIA.CA