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Let the Municipal Election Games Begin
Photo by Michael Chrisman/Torontoist.
At 8:30 a.m. today Toronto’s 2010 municipal elections officially got underway, as the Elections Office opened its doors and began accepting nomination papers. Those who desire to run for mayor, city councillor, or trustee of one of Toronto’s four school boards can now make good on their intentions, formally register their candidacy, and (once they’ve done so) begin raising money to fund their campaigns.
One of the laments we hear most often is that Torontonians don’t care about municipal politics, and that Toronto-based media don’t do an adequate job of covering it. Sure, there are reports and commentary galore about the big kahuna—the mayor’s race—but most councillor races get only an occasional mention (rare exceptions being made for some of the high-profile downtown wards). Similarly, the city’s inhabitants are often described as politically apathetic, disinclined to learn about, care about, or vote for the candidates in their ward. (Again, the exception is the mayor’s race, about which most people at least profess an opinion.) Voter turnout in the last election was 39.3%.
We’d like to play a role in changing that.
We are therefore very pleased to announce that, coming soon, we will be unveiling a satellite site devoted to our city’s wards, their inhabitants, and their (would-be) elected representatives. We’ll be covering the mayor’s race too, of course, but we are firmly committed to introducing Toronto to itself, to learning about all of Toronto—which is a lot bigger than the parts of it we (and possibly you) visit on a regular basis. We’ll have ward profiles (in both words and photographs) and essential election information, and over time we’ll do our best to introduce you to all the candidates in the ward where you live and vote. We’ll also be discussing the ins and outs of City Hall, and the ways in which—beyond voting—you can have a voice there.
To find out if you are on the voters’ list or learn more about registering, contact the Municipal Property Assessment Corporation.