The usual suspects fill the lineup in mayoral race

Toronto could use some truly fresh faces in a contest without a clear front-runner

The field of candidates for Toronto’s upcoming mayoral election is coming together. There is good news and bad news. Good news first.

Because this special election was necessitated by the resignation of the sitting mayor, John Tory, who stepped down after admitting to having an affair with someone who worked in his office, there is no entrenched incumbent. Nor is there any heir apparent – someone who everyone thought would be next in line for the job. The most promising successor, former city councillor Joe Cressy, opted out for family reasons.

So we have a wide-open contest. After two elections in which Mr. Tory dominated, discouraging many other contenders, that is a very good thing indeed. Toronto has a host of urgent issues on its plate, from crime to homelessness to unaffordable housing.

An actual race, with no incumbent or clear front-runner, should focus the city’s attention on its ills and get its residents involved in the search for solutions. Voter turnout fell to a dismal 30 per cent in the last election, down from 50 per cent in 2010.

A whole raft of contenders is vying for the job or thinking seriously about it. They represent a broad range of opinion and background. Two city councillors – one current, one former – are serious candidates. So is a former police chief and a former provincial cabinet minister. So is the energetic urban consultant who ran second to Mr. Tory in last October’s vote.

The bad news is that none of them stands out as obvious mayoral material. Midtown councillor Josh Matlow, though wellspoken, principled and popular among his constituents, is a sometimes-peevish loner who doesn’t play well with others. His promise to move away from Mr. Tory’s “go along to get along” relationship with the provincial government and confront it on big issues instead could foretell a future of unhelpful head-butting with Queen’s Park.

Ana Bailao, a well-liked councillor who served at city hall for a dozen years, worked hard to bring more affordable housing to the city, but never made a lasting mark in council debates.

Former police chief Mark Saunders stumbled over his handling of the fallout from one of the most dramatic crimes of recent years, the Gay Village murders committed by serial killer Bruce McArthur. He often has trouble expressing himself clearly, a big failing in a role where communication is half the job.

The urban consultant, Gil Penalosa, brought admirable energy and eloquence to his run against Mr. Tory last fall. But with his practised shtick about the virtues of walking, cycling and taking public transit, it is hard to imagine how he would connect with voters in the cardependent suburbs that make up so much of modern-day Toronto.

It’s a disappointing field so far. Most of the candidates have been kicking around for years in one capacity or another. None can be truly called a fresh face.

Toronto is a city of three million people, the fourth largest metropolis in North America. It teems with bright, talented, driven people. Ingenious tech entrepreneurs who might bring some innovation to city government. Dedicated leaders of social-services or philanthropic agencies with genuine insights into the city’s social problems. Inspiring figures from entertainment, sports or higher education. Wouldn’t it be great if one of them were to step forward to run for mayor?

This is a truly important election. Though Toronto remains a prosperous, caring and highly livable city, its success is under threat on a whole variety of fronts. Crime and urban disorder threaten its sense of security. A lagging return to the office threatens the health of its downtown. The affordability problem is forcing many young people to move away. City finances were hammered by the fight against COVID-19, making it hard to pay for all the things that keep a big city working.

To tackle all of this, we need strong, dynamic, persuasive leadership. That is not likely to come up from any of the current names on the candidate list. Toronto can do better.

An actual race, with no incumbent or clear front-runner, should focus the city’s attention on its ills and get its residents involved in the search for solutions.