Thornhill election night results and reaction

Yorkregion.com
Oct. 27, 2014
By Simone Joseph and Patrick Mangion

Following tonight's municipal election, Thornhill's political landscape will remain largely unchanged.

Its wards; two in Vaughan and one in Markham, will still be represented by Alan Shefman, Sandra Yeung Racco and Valerie Burke.

Thornhill residents, on both the Markham and Vaughan side, saw the re-election of mayors Maurizio Bevilacqua and Frank Scarpitti.

However, there were changes to regional council as Vaughan's Deb Schulte fell short in her re-election bid and newcomer Nirmala Armstrong filled the void left on Markham regional council, left by Gord Landon.

In Vaughan Ward 4, incumbent Sandra Yeung Racco shook off losses in a provincial byelection and June's general election to secure another term in Concord/Thornhill.

"It is satisfying to see the results," Yeung Racco said. "I don't have to think about another election for four years".

In Vaughan Ward 5, incumbent Alan Shefman held back newcomer Josh Martow - the son of Thornhill PC MPP Gila Martow.

Sounding elated when reached by The Thornhill Liberal by phone, Shefman said, "I've got my life back".

" I am more than a bit awed by the support I have gotten from the community I have lived in for 32 years," Shefman said.

For Martow, 22, it was a valuable learning experience.

"I know this isn't the result we were hoping for," Martow told supporters in his concession speech. "It was such a worthwhile experience.

After his speech, one of his supporters, family friend Harold Milstein said "I'm not so nervous about the future knowing there are kids like that around."

And despite voters in Markham's Ward 1 finding themselves in the rare situation of having to decide between incumbents Valerie Burke and Howard Shore, the victory was never in doubt for Burke.

In a video, posted to her Facebook page, Burke thanked a few dozen supporters, gathered at her home.

"I can't wait to tackle a new ward. We're all going to work together and we're going to keep doing great things for Thornhill," she said.