Tony Carella, Vaughan Ward 2 candidate

Yorkregion.com
September 19, 2018

I am currently completing my 18th year of service to the citizens of Vaughan. To be elected five times is an honour, and perhaps an indication of how my constituents feel about the service I have provided over the years, always with the help of my own and city staff --both excellent. And that is what so much of my work as a local councillor --responding to the needs and concerns of the people who, in effect, hired me in the first place.

I am a graduate in honours modern history from St. Michael’s College, University of Toronto. I have taught secondary school, worked for a major corporation, run my own small business, and spent time in provincial government. I believe every kind of employment I have ever had has contributed to my effectiveness as a local councillor. Dealing with clients and customers means I understand people’s needs. Being a teacher taught me how to clarify matters that might otherwise seem confusing, and to articulate the concerns of others. Working at the province gave me an inside view of how governments function, particularly at the level that has control of the municipal sphere.

The outgoing council has a lot to be proud of. This past term saw three important projects concluded or well-underway, along with an entirely new initiative in the works. In the first instance, I refer of course to the opening of the subway extension to Jane and Highway 7, and the start of construction of the hospital and of the Highway 427 extension. The new initiative is the expansion of the scope of Hospice Vaughan, at a new location that will include a 10-bed residential component.

But the issues that confront us remain the same: maintaining high service levels (including services not offered by any other municipalities, such as windrow clearing!), getting better value for the taxes we all pay, and managing growth in a way that contributes to a safer, greener and more prosperous Vaughan.

Campaign office: 9600 Islington Ave., at Napa Valley Avenue, Unit A6 (former Re-Max office, adjacent to Food Basics)

Website: TonyCarella.com