It's official: Bevilacqua launches bid for Vaughan's top job

yorkregion.com
Sept. 11, 2014
By Adam Martin-Robbins

Incumbent mayor Maurizio Bevilacqua is poised to waltz back into office for four more years - barring any major changes in the electoral landscape during the next two days.

Bevilacqua, 54, officially registered as a mayoral candidate Wednesday afternoon, filing his nomination papers with the city clerk.

And with the period for registering as a candidate in the Oct. 27 municipal election set to close Friday afternoon, the only other contender for the mayor’s chair is newcomer Daniel DeVito.

Since registering as a candidate in late January, the Kleinburg resident has been largely silent on the campaign trail.

Vaughan MP Julian Fantino, who was rumoured to be interested in taking a shot at the mayor’s chair, has confirmed he intends to stay put at Parliament Hill.

“As I have said previously, I feel honoured and privileged to represent and serve the good people of Vaughan in Ottawa and have every intention to continue doing so,” Fantino wrote in an email Monday.

Should DeVito prove to be his only challenger, Bevilacqua will no doubt have an easy time getting re-elected.

After all, he’s a veteran politician who served as MP for 22 years before being elected mayor in 2010. And in that contest he defeated former mayor Linda Jackson and former MPP Mario Racco by more than 35,000 votes.

But with two days remaining for a major contender to step forward, he’s not planning his inauguration speech just yet.

“I’ve run enough election campaigns to know that you never take anything for granted,” Bevilacqua said. “But I must admit that I’m very pleased with the response that I’ve received over the past four years as mayor. And for me, at my age, and with the number of years of public service, it is really a labour of love. It’s more about me serving people than anything else.”

Regardless of what transpires, Bevilacqua plans on being a visible presence on the campaign trail.

“For me, this campaign is a way to also connect with the community as I have over the past 20 years,” he said. “But I’m really going to go out there to thank the residents for their incredible support and vote of confidence and faith they’ve placed in me to bring about the kind of positive change that we’ve been able to bring about in the city in the past four years.”

If re-elected, his plan is to stay the course.

“I think we’ve been able to have a cultural shift in governance here in the city of Vaughan, whether you’re talking about the service that we provide citizens, which is exceptional, to the relationship that I have with other levels of government that has obviously benefitted the city,” Bevilacqua said, pointing to the province’s pledge to begin building the Hwy. 427extension in 2017 as well as the road and sewer infrastructure work under way at the hospital lands.

“These are great achievements that we need to build on,” Bevilacqua said.

Unlike the mayoral race, there are several candidates vying for the regional and local councillor seats, at least as of press time Wednesday afternoon.

Regional Council

Incumbents Michael Di Biase, Gino Rosati and Deb Schulte are all seeking re-election.

Looking to best them are former regional councillor Mario Ferri, who came up short by about 445 votes in 2010; Carrie Liddy, who also ran in the last election, and Max Power.

Ward 1 (Maple/Kleinburg)

Incumbent Marilyn Iafrate is facing three challengers for her seat, including Antony Niro, who caused a stir in 2010 with his Time for Change election campaign calling for voters to oust certain longtime councillors; Maria Gagliardi and Muhammad Islam.

Ward 2 (West Woodbridge)

The contest here boasts the largest slate of candidates, including Sam Acquaviva, incumbent Tony Carella, former mayoral and provincial NDP candidate Paul Donofrio, Frank Miele (who had originally registered as a regional councillor candidate), West Woodbridge Homeowners Association president Nick Pinto, Marco Villella and former regional councillor candidate Adriano Volpentesta.

Daniel Salvatore, the first candidate to register for the Ward 2 seat, has withdrawn.

Ward 3 (East Woodbridge)

This race features four hopefuls, including Lorenzo Catuzza, longtime staffer to former Vaughan MPP Greg Sorbara, incumbent Rosanna DeFrancesca, Francesco Ferraro and Nick Lima.

Ward 4 (Concord/Thornhill North)

Here there is a three-way contest between Jonathan Gorenstein, incumbent Sandra Yeung Racco and Styles Q. Weinberg, who finished second in the 2010 race.

Ward 5 (Thornhill)

It’s a two-horse race, right now, between incumbent Alan Shefman and Josh Martow, son of Thornhill Tory MPP Gila Martow.

In partnership with the City of Vaughan, Meet and Greet events are planned for all five municipal wards in Vaughan. The events are free and all residents are encouraged to attend and get to know the candidates. Here are the details:

WARD 1 - MAPLE/KLEINBURG

Where: Maple Community Centre, gymnasium, 10190 Keele St.
When: Tuesday, Sept. 23
from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
Who: Local Ward 1 candidates, mayoral candidates & local and regional candidates, school board candidates
Host: Canadian Automobile Association
More info: Caroline Grech via email gr@caasco.ca

WARD 2 - WEST WOODBRIDGE

Where: Al Palladini Community Centre, gymnasium, 9201 Islington Ave.
When: Wednesday, Sept. 17
from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
Who: Local Ward 2 candidates, mayoral candidates & local and regional candidates, school board candidates
Host: Vaughan Chamber of Commerce
More info: Carla Romano via email at carla@vaughanchamber.ca

WARD 3 - EAST WOODBRIDGE

Where: Chancellor Community Centre, gymnasium, 350 Ansley Grove Rd.
When: Tuesday, Sept. 16
from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Who: Local Ward 3 candidates, mayoral candidates & local and regional candidates, school board candidates
Host: The Vaughan Citizen
More info: Kim Champion via email at kchampion@yrmg.com

WARD 4 - CONCORD/THORNHILL

Where: North Thornhill Community Centre, gymnasium, 300 Pleasant Ridge
When: Thursday, Oct. 2
from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
Who: Local Ward 4 candidates, mayoral candidates & local and regional candidates, school board candidates
Host: Canadian Automobile Association
More info: Caroline Grech via email at gr@caasco.ca

WARD 5 - THORNHILL

Where: Garnet A. Williams Community Centre, gymnasium, 501 Clark Ave. W.
When: Monday, Sept. 15
from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Who: Local Ward 5 candidates, mayoral candidates & local and regional candidates, school board candidates
Host: The Thornhill Liberal
More info: Marney Beck via email at mbeck@yrmg.com