Vaughan council chooses Sunder Singh to replace ex-councillor Di Biase
Longtime executive director of Elspeth Heyworth Centre for Women bested 52 other candidates vying for appointment

yorkregion.com
June 28, 2017
By Adam Martin-Robbins

And Vaughan’s new regional councillor is...Sunder Singh.

City council voted to appoint Singh, the longtime executive director of the Elspeth Heyworth Centre for Women, to replace former regional councillor Michael Di Biase at the end of a nearly five-hour special council meeting June 28.

“It’s a huge responsibility and a big learning opportunity as well, and being able to serve the public is a (source of) pride; I feel very fortunate,” Singh, a Vaughan resident for nearly 10 years, said in an interview after being sworn in to her new position by the city clerk.

“I left it to the system and I was not expecting a lot, but I am very pleased that I am appointed.”

Vaughan deputy mayor eligible for severance despite sexual harassment finding
It took just two rounds of voting for councillors to choose a replacement for Di Biase, who served on council for nearly 30 years, including a stint as mayor.

He stepped down May 19 following the release of an explosive report by Integrity Commissioner Suzanne Craig that found he sexually harassed a city employee.

Di Biase has vehemently denied the allegations.

Singh was among 53 people vying for the appointment to the vacated local and regional councillor seat after three of the original 56 applicants withdrew.

It was a diverse group of men and women ranging in age from the mid-20s to retirees, with experience in education, engineering, finance, real estate, the automotive industry, the non-profit sector and municipal politics.

Those who addressed council before the voting began spoke of their desires to ensure stability in governance, give back to community, alleviate traffic congestion, keep tax hikes in check, further their own learning and help the city reach new heights.