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ANOTHER
VETERAN POLITICIAN DEPARTS COUNCIL
From Globe and Mail - March 4, 2003
JENNIFER LEWINGTON
CITY HALL BUREAU CHIEF
The resignation of veteran Toronto politician Betty Disero, announced
yesterday, adds to a growing list of high-profile departures from
city council.
In a tearful farewell, Ms. Disero said "it's just time for
me to leave."
Alluding to her next career as a consultant and lobbyist, she added,
"it's time for me to contribute in a different way from the
other side of the blue cordon [which separates council members from
onlookers in the chamber]."
Ms. Disero's departure means that council will have to appoint a
new chairperson for the Toronto Transit Commission and appoint a
caretaker to fill her council seat for the final months before the
Nov. 10 municipal election.
A Toronto city councillor for 18 years and a public-school trustee
for three years before that, Ms. Disero joins several political
veterans who are either not running again or are leaving their council
seats for other offices.
Those who are not returning for sure are Mayor Mel Lastman, who
announced his plans to retire in January, and former Ward 30 councillor
Jack Layton, who was recently elected national leader of the NDP.
But the list could be much larger depending on the results of this
year's mayoral race and the outcome of the as-yet-unannounced provincial
election.
"There's potential for one of the largest turnovers we've seen
on a local council," says Brad Duguid, a Scarborough Centre
councillor who is weighing an invitation to run for the provincial
Liberals.
Councillor David Miller is running for mayor, which creates a vacancy
in his ward of Parkdale-High Park.
Several other councillors either have won or are seeking nominations
to run provincially.
Lorenzo Berardinetti, another Scarborough Centre councillor, will
be running for the provincial Liberals, and Etobicoke Centre councillor
Irene Jones is seeking the nomination to run for the NDP in her
west-end area.
Don Valley East Councillor Paul Sutherland, who has been considering
a run for mayor, is leaning toward a run for the provincial Progressive
Conservatives.
He narrowly lost to Elinor Caplan in 1995 in the provincial election
and, if he ran again, would take on her son David Caplan in Don
Valley East.
Mr. Sutherland said yesterday he will announce his own plans in
the coming weeks.
Depending on the timing of a provincial election, councillors could
run provincially -- and lose -- and still have time to jump into
the municipal race.
Municipal candidates in Toronto have until Sept. 26 to file their
nomination papers and can withdraw no later than Sept. 29.
Trinity-Spadina Councillor Olivia Chow, who praised Ms. Disero as
"a get-things-done" local politician, said the departure
of high-profile politicians creates a mixed picture.
While there is a loss of the veterans' experience, she said, "sometimes
it's good to have new blood.
"I hope the new group of councillors can actually translate
residents' priorities into action," she said. "We haven't
done that well."
Correction
Toronto City Councillor Irene Jones represents the ward of Etobicoke-Lakeshore.
Incorrect information appeared in a story on March 4.
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