Gil Penalosa, runner-up in fall election, not running for Toronto mayor

The urbanist and 2022 mayoral race runner-up said he decided not to run in order to unite the progressive vote.

Thestar.com
April 20, 2023
Alyshah Hasham

Gil Penalosa is not running for mayor.

The urbanist and runner-up in last year’s mayoral election is instead endorsing Olivia Chow, calling for progressives to unite behind her “because she has committed that we not only need to solve the housing crisis but that we need to create a city for everyone.”

Penalosa, the Colombian-born founder of non-profit 8 80 Cities, has said he joined the 2022 race because he did not see another high-profile progressive candidate step up to run against John Tory.

He spent much of his previous campaign advocating for public spaces, for affordable housing, for an equitable city and opposing the province’s plan for a private spa in Ontario Place.

He said Wednesday that while he shares much in common with Coun. Josh Matlow, who is running for mayor as a “pragmatic progressive,” Penalosa said he believes Chow “is a better team-builder, she brings more people on board” at this time.

He denied that his decision was influenced by his previous campaign team dispersing to other candidates this time around.

In making the announcement, Penalosa was joined by former city councillor and current NDP MPP Kristyn Wong-Tam who endorsed Penalosa in the last mayoral election, but this time is supporting Chow.

Chow is “the person that has the most experience, that has a proven track record at many different levels of government, who knows the inner workings of city hall and can actually start to solve the issues that are before us today,” Wong-Tam said.

In a statement, Chow said she is grateful for the support of both Penalosa and Wong-Tam.

More than 40 people have signed up to run for mayor. Among the most high profile are former councillor Ana Bailao, current councillor Brad Bradford, former Toronto police chief Mark Saunders, and MPP Mitzie Hunter.