Aurora mayoral candidate launches petition following municipal election loss

Phiona Durrant wants incumbents to step away from their roles when seeking re-election to 'level the playing field'

Yorkregion.com
Nov. 29, 2022
Melissa Wallace

Mayoral candidate Phiona Durrant is fighting what she calls “inequity, flaws, and injustice in the municipal election process designed to help incumbents” through an online petition.

“These barriers are there to discourage people like myself and any new person who’s entrusted in politics and being the voice in their community from competing in the marketplace of ideas and for vying for a seat at the table,” she said. Unfair advantages she alleges include: being a presence at ribbon-cutting and grand-opening ceremonies, using staff to access town information or taxpayers’ information, and using the town’s email systems, phone, social media, and website paid for by taxpayers’ money for any campaign activities.

At the Oct. 24 election, all incumbents but one were voted back into office. Re-elected Mayor Tom Mrakas won 7,743 of the ballots (69.49 per cent) cast compared to 1,802 (16.17 per cent) for his closest rival, Anna Lozyk Romeo, and 1,597 (14.33 per cent) for Durrant.

Voter turnout declined to an abysmal 26.2 per cent. Of the 43,032 eligible voters, 11,257 ballots were cast.

“Had I not run, I would not have understood the systemic issues causing the lack of competition or interest in those who want to participate because they already know it’s not a level playing field and you’re fighting a losing battle,” said Durrant.

The petition specifically calls on Ontario’s premier and Town of Aurora council to follow the same bylaws that apply to federal MPs, provincial MPPs, municipal staff, clerks, federal and provincial ministers, which require incumbents to step away from their roles if seeking re-election.

Robert Drummond, York University professor emeritus of politics and policy, is not optimistic the petition will make a difference.

“I don’t think the provincial government would be moved to do anything unless there was a massive groundswell of public opinion,” he said. He notes that a mayor and councillors who step away from their role a few weeks before the vote would make “little to no impact on election results.”

“I think elections are reasonably fair as they are,” he said. “The problem is not unfairness, but the lack of information most voters have about any of the candidates.”

Mrakas was unavailable for comment. Durrant’s petition can be viewed at https://chng.it/YtTFs7zGgW.