York region votes for consistency
Election results for York Region after the Oct. 27 municipal elections.
Thestar.com
Oct. 27, 2014
By Noor Javed
There was little changing of the guard in York Region, as many of the current mayors held on to their seats for the next four years.
The most contentious mayoral race was in Richmond Hill, where two-time mayor Dave Barrow faced Carmine Perrelli, a council member who campaigned on a platform of fiscal responsibility and saving tax dollars.
But Barrow won easily and spoke enthusiastically about his victory.
“I had a good feeling about the people of Richmond Hill and I was looking forward to their decision,” said Barrow, speaking at the Royal Canadian Legion in Richmond Hill. “And all I can say is they chose well,” he said.
Perrelli who answered the phone as “councillor Perrelli” wouldn’t answer questions about the election results. “This is my councillor phone line. I can only answer questions about council,” he said repeatedly to questions. He did not answer or respond to calls and messages left on his personal cell phone.
Mayor Frank Scarpitti of Markham was voted in for another four years, despite his controversial plan to build a NHL-sized arena in the city’s downtown. The $325-million project that would have been funded in part by taxpayers was eventually voted down in council in 2013, but Scarpitti remained a staunch supporter of the arena plan until the end.
But his ally Carolina Moretti faced defeat in Ward 4, losing out to Karen Rea. Rea was a citizen activist who was one of the most vocal opponents to the arena plan.
Valerie Burke was victorious in the fight for the newly formed Thornhill ward (Ward 1), which had two incumbents Howard Shore and Burke going head to head. The new ward was created after a boundary review last year merged two wards into one.
Vaughan residents opted for calm, and voted in incumbent Maurizio Bevilacqua for another four years. With a hospital, subway and highway all in the works for Vaughan, Bevilacqua pledged to keep the city on course for the next four years.
“I want to express my heartfelt gratitude to those who cast a ballot,” he said during his acceptance speech at Riviera Parque Banquet and Convention Centre in Vaughan. “We have turned the city around. We now have a proud city,” he said.
In northern York Region, there was little change as residents stuck to the status quo in every town except one.
Georgina voters opted for a new mayor, Margaret Quirk. Rob Grossi is a 20-year council veteran who was facing former Ward 1 councillor Quirk, who served 16 years before stepping down in 2010.
Aurora incumbent mayor Geoff Dawe, who was running against John Gallo, a former councillor, was victorious.
Dawe built his platform on bringing jobs to the town and protecting green space. Aurora, which still follows the at-large system, also asked voters if they would support a ward system.
Newmarket voters stuck with incumbent Tony Van Bynen, who was up against Chris Campbell and financial planner and Elvis impersonator Dorian Baxter.
East Gwillimbury voters chose to keep Virginia Hackson in the mayoral seat, beating out candidate Cathy Morton. The town is expecting to see an increase in development with the Highway 404 extension finalized, and sewage allocation now in place.
Justin Altmann is the new mayor for Whitchurch-Stoufville after five candidates answered the call for mayor with the departure of Wayne Emmerson. Emmerson has his sights set on regional chair and has been lobbying regional councillors over the past year - as the position is appointed. York Region Chair Bill Fisch will be stepping down this year after nearly 20 years on the job.
