Nomination Day 2014 dawns over South Bayview

Nomination day dawns over South Bayview today (Friday September 12, 2014) with what looks like safe races for the sitting councillors in Wards 22 and 25. Both Josh Matlow (22) and Jaye Robinson (25) have what appear to be unassailable positions. Mr. Matlow is known for an energetic stewardship of his ward in which few issues do not deserve his personal attention. In Ward 16, there is what appears to be a wide-open race in which 15 candidates will try to take the district now held by Karen Stintz. In Ward 26, two-time incumbent John Parker will try to hold off a second challenge from Jon Burnside, the candidate who came within 400 votes of winning in 2010.  Parker is also challenged by David Sparrow. In 2010, the vote was split three ways between Mr. Parker, Mr Burnside and a third candidate, Mohamed Dhanani, who is not running this time. In Ward 27 , Kristyn Wong-Tam will face a field of ten candidates as she attempts to nail down a second term. In 2010, she squeaked through with merely 28 percent of the vote in a field of 15 candidates. For many people who live in parts of Rosedale, Moore Park and Summerhill, Ms Wong-Tam’s tenure represents the embodiment of a cultural canyon dividing the ward. Many ratepayers question her judgement as seen in efforts to rezone a lot on Molson Street against fierce local resistance. The councillor also spearheads Open Streets, a project seen by some as illusory. In 2010, Ken Chan, a former policeman came within 450 votes in the large field. Both Ms Wong-Tam and Mr. Chan were declared LGBT candidates.