Longtime Vaughan mayor won't seek re-election in October

'When I was first elected in 2010, Vaughan did not have a hospital, a subway, a university, a downtown core, a 900-acre park or 70,000 new jobs. Today that has all changed,' says Maurizio Bevilacqua in his statement

Newmarkettoday.ca
June 6, 2022

Longtime Vaughan Mayor Maurizio Bevilacqua has announced he won't be seeking re-election in the October 2022 municipal election, opening the door for a competition in York Region's second largest city.

"I want to thank the community for continuously giving me a strong mandate to serve and their unwavering support throughout more than three decades in elected office. My life has been wholeheartedly dedicated to public service. It will forever remain my life's honour to have served Vaughan residents since 1988, first as a member of Parliament, then as mayor," Bevilacqua said in a statement released by the City of Vaughan.

"I made this decision with the confidence of knowing that I am leaving Vaughan in a better place than I found it. We are now a city that is admired and respected well beyond our borders," said Bevilacqua, who took the top job 12 years ago after the city had been mired in several political scandals.

"Vaughan is a city transformed," he said.

"When I was first elected in 2010, Vaughan did not have a hospital, a subway, a university, a downtown core, a 900-acre park or 70,000 new jobs. Today that has all changed. Together, we have made tremendous strides in our city-building efforts," he said.

He played an instrumental role in achieving the $250-million community fundraising goal for Cortellucci Vaughan Hospital, which opened June 6, 2021, as chair of the Mackenzie Health Foundation's Ultimate Campaign.

"The Vaughan Metropolitan Centre (VMC) continues to rise to new and unprecedented heights, growing well beyond projected growth at a rate of 267 per cent. The heart of our emerging downtown is home to several transformational projects, including the VMC subway, highrise towers, and commercial office buildings, which have created thousands of jobs, public art projects and vibrant community event spaces," Bevilacqua said.

"The city is outpacing national, provincial and regional growth rates with real GDP growth at 7 per cent. Since 2010, more than $15 billion in building permits have been issued, and 70,000 additional jobs have been created."

His achievements also include the opening of Niagara University in the VMC in January 2019 and the 900-acre North Maple Regional Park, which is larger than New York City's Central Park.

"Ultimately, seeking elected office is about improving the lives of the people you serve. When you are called to lead, you are called to serve. I have always said that public service is a vocation, not a job. You must be willing to place the needs of others before your own. That is what authentic leadership is all about. Purpose-driven leadership has helped generate 70,000 jobs, build a downtown core, attract a university, open Cortellucci Vaughan Hospital, create a 900-acre park and a seamless, well-connected transit system," he said.

His announcement has launched some speculation on social media about his future political ambitions in the wake of Steven Del Duca's resignation as Ontario Liberal Party leader after last night's election.

Bevilacqua was a Liberal MP from 1988 to 2010 prior to becoming Vaughan mayor, and was one of 11 candidates for the leadership of the Liberal Party of Canada before dropping out of the race in 2006.