Candidates endorsed by municipal workers union
YorkRegion.com
Oct. 17, 2014
Two Markham city council candidates have been endorsed by the local arm of the Canadian Union of Public Employees.
Regional councillor candidate Nirmala Armstrong and Ward 5 candidate Compass Chung were endorsed by CUPE 905, which represents more than 4,000 members working in York Region.
The local’s contracted employers include the Region of York, the cities of Markham and Vaughan, and the towns of Georgina, King, Newmarket, Richmond Hill, Aurora, Whitchurch-Stouffville, and New Tecumseth.
The endorsements were based on the candidates’ answers to a questionnaire send to all candidates.
The Toronto and York Region Labour Council has also endorsed Armstrong and Chung as well as some school board trustee candidates.
In the York Region District School Board race they have endorsed Cindy Hackelberg running in Area 1 (Markham Ward 1/Vaughan Ward 5) and Rukshan Para, Area 3, Markham Wards 4 & 5.
In Vaughan, the local CUPE 905 endorsed incumbents Regional Councillor Gino Rosati and Ward 4 Concord incumbent Councillor Sandra Yeung Racco.
Residents association throws support behind Burke
With the merging of former Wards 1 and 2 in Thornhill Markham, two incumbents, Valerie Burke and Howard Shore, are competing to represent the new Ward 1 Thornhill.
Settlers Park Residents Association declared Monday it is supporting Burke as the best choice to represent the new, larger Thornhill ward.
“We expect all voters will decide what is important to them, look at the qualifications and record of the candidates, and vote accordingly. We hope our endorsement will be one of the things you consider, and we offer a few observations based on our deep involvement in Markham’s municipal affairs,” wrote Bob James, vice president of the board of the residents association.
“Valerie Burke has an impeccable record, and we have found her to be of the highest integrity. She is a team player, and gives credit where credit is due.”
To read the full statement, go to http://germanmills.org/2014/10/12/spra-board-communication-municipal-election-ward-1/
For more on the Settlers Park Residents Association, go to the website germanmills.org
Thornhill to be represented by one public school trustee
To accommodate growth in Vaughan, the York Region District School Board has adjusted some wards in this municipal election.
After the Oct. 27 election, Vaughan will have three trustees, effectively 2 1/2, and Markham will have three trustees, effectively 3 1/2.
The result, according to Joel Hertz, current school board vice chairman and current trustee for Vaughan Wards 4 and 5 (Thornhill), “this will reunite Thornhill under one public school trustee”.
“Trustee Anna DeBartolo has given up Vaughan’s Ward 3 to me to run in and I have given up Thornhill Vaughan’s Ward 5 for the extra trustee to run in, along with Thornhill Ward 1 in Markham,” explained Hertz, campaigning for re-election.
Also running in Vaughan Wards 3 and 4 are Linda Aversa and Philip Palmer.
In the new Thornhill ward (currently Markham Ward 1 and Vaughan Ward 5) candidates include current Markham trustee Susan Geller, plus Mark Bloch, Alisa Boukine, Cindy Hackelberg, Rohit Malik, Steven Mayers, Deven Sandhu, Simon Strelchik and Anastasia Tsouroupakis.
