Ward 4: Taking on Councillor Lindsay Luby

Councillor Gloria Lindsay Luby has been running Ward 4 (Etobicoke-Centre) for four terms now.  She is probably most known in the City for being the lone con on Miller's executive committee.  She jumped ship from the committee in the fall of 2009 stating that she felt 'marginalized' in the inner circle.

She voted to give herself a pay raise in 2010, voted in favour of the City paying for Sandra Bussin's legal costs, voted against the Jarvis bike lanes, and abstained on the pro-union deal to end the garbage strike.  She supported reducing the Councillor expense account to $30,000.

On October 25th, she'll be taking on John Campbell and Daniel Bertolini.

John Campbell is a former TDSB Trustee and Chair.  He is running because he feels that Etobicoke does not have a strong enough voice on Council. I asked Mr Campbell to answer some questions so that readers could get to know him better and his quest to unseat Lindsay Luby.

1. Why are you running to become City Councillor of Ward 4?  

City hall needs smart, energetic people with fresh perspectives and new ideas who are not afraid to challenge the status quo and who are interested in taking on the city's budget problems. I can fill that role. Over the past 40 days, I have met hundreds of people at the doorstep who feel that their constituent matters have not been handled in a prompt, respectful manner. That's not proper, and it is not good public service. City Hall needs new leadership and I want to be a part of a new wave of councillors who can work to improve our city. 

2. What makes you stand out among the other candidates?  

I was Chair of the Toronto District School Board for two years and I know how to work co-operatively with staff, aim for and achieve balanced budgets, manage union contracts and negotiations, build strong media relationships, and build consensus with colleagues.  The TDSB is the largest school board in Canada with a budget in excess of $2.6 billion and when I was Chair, a lot of important work got underway and was accomplished.

3. Councillor Lindsay Luby has been around for four terms. How many terms are too many? 

 
Certainly EIGHT terms is about four terms too many.  

4. What is your take on Councillor Luby quitting the Executive Committee as soon as Miller announced he was not running for a 3rd term? Was it opportunistic or merely an “opportunity” as she said?  

When canvassing, many local area residents tell me that Gloria 'looks after Gloria'. There is an integrity issue with that decision to bolt. As soon as Miller was a lame duck, Gloria had no more use for him.   
   

5. Tell me about the biggest challenge of running against a well-established incumbent.  

Councillor Luby is the consummate self-promoter. Her 'summer newsletter which is a tabloid boasting of her work, just arrived on Etobicoke Centre doorsteps within two months of the election -- paid for by the taxpayers. This is another integrity issue. Name recognition -- and not her mediocre record - is the biggest obstacle.  

6. What are the greatest issues facing Toronto as a whole?  

Transit, traffic, managing population growth, budget and taxes.  

Thanks John and good luck on October 25th!