Mayor Miller Not Seeking Re-Election in 2010
David Miller will not be seeking re-election as the mayor of Toronto. He'd previously declared that he was aiming for a third term beginning in 2010, but today he announced that he's changed his mind.
Media (and Miller's campaign team) in the room applauded as Miller was introduced and approached the mic to make the major announcement, flanked by his wife Jill and children Julia and Simon.
Citing personal reasons including wanting to be more dedicated to his family, and what would amount to be an intense re-election campaign, Miller told the media that he feels that he's achieved and kick-started most of the goals he'd set out at the beginning of his role as mayor.
Nearing the end of his speech, as he expressed his adoration for Toronto by calling it "Safe, strong, clean, and green," his emotion became evident as his voice quivered.
As for the remaining 14 months of his current term? "I will not let Torontonians down," Miller promised.
He closed his 15-minute announcement by insisting that "[Toronto's] best days are to come."
How do you feel about Mayor Miller's sudden bowing out?
Photo: danepstein.
Comments (61)
I'm so happy that now no one can vote this idiot back in! Hopefully we have a good candidate we can fill his place with.. although I'd imagine whoever takes over will have quite a mess to clean up, so that may deter people.
I'm going to miss him as mayor. Despite what happened this summer, I think he has done A LOT of good for this city since he was first elected. I'm proud to live in Toronto and when I think about the condition of our city, he definitely has a lot to do with it.
I hope we elect someone as passionate and pro-active as he is next year (someone with similar politics would be ideal in my opinion).
Is he taking Rae and McConnell with him? He isn't the only one on Council destroying this city.....
Being Mayor of Toronto is a hard, thankless job.
While he wasn't the best Mayor ever, I know he worked hard to make positive change. I will miss him.
It will be interesting to see who lines up for the position next, although so far it is a pretty bleak looking pool of prospects.
Yay!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Now if we could just elect someone with a brain the city might have a chance.
Is there anyway to have him take his cronies with him?
Poll "Other"responses so far:
He's a potato!
happy for him
Good Riddance
I want to thank him for his good work
should never have been re-elected
I wanted him to live up to his hype. He never did.
Don't let the door hit you on your ass on the way out!
Was so hopeful, back then.
I don't blame him
he looks to [sic] tired to run!
Is everyone forgetting Mel Lastman? All this david miller hate is so overblown. The civic strike was little more than a nuisance.
A little conflicted about this one, I've never liked the kind of cynical weasel politician Miller is, the whole Island airport thing and the way he played that still rankles, but more often than not on other issues where the rubber meets the road he did OK. One hopes there's a candidate with a actual social justice point of view who isn't also a lying sack of .... and yet can win. I'm not holding my breath.
City Council is dysfunctional. City Hall is a bureaucratic nightmare. Politicians who hope to have any longevity at the municipal level have to be posturing blustering hypocrites -- forget substance and integrity.
Let's pick up Miller's broom and really sweep that place clean: INCUMBENTS OUT!
In the next municipal election, get involved, make candidates prove why they deserve our support, remind them they work for us and emphasize the word "WORK". Don't just re-elect the incumbent because you recognize his/her name. In fact, what exactly has your incumbent councillor done for the CITY? My ward councillor gets stuff done for her constituents, and that's what councillors do best -- that's how they get re-elected. But her partisan politics do nothing for the city.
These people get paid well. We should expect a job well done in return.
So who is going to run for mayor now that won't sell out our city to make a quick buck? Forget Tory that man is a born loser..
People are fairly quick to judge and call out Miller for whatever grievance they can throw at him on any given day. Recognize that municipal politics in this country is an extremely difficult beast. Cities are robbed blind by the provinces, there's no money to do anything, and cities can't collect on anything except property taxes. That's why the City of Toronto Tax was created... to give the city more taxation authority.
Don't like the job your mayor's doing? How about you take the time to learn how the system works? You might find out there are more worthy people to point fingers at...
Toronto lack spirit.
The comments posted here demonstrate exactly why people in Toronto are not liked.
If you don't like our Mayor, our Council, then instead of hating, cheer for our successes and get people to vote for those politicians who are accountable (an oxymoron, I know).
The portfolio for Mayor is huge and no person can be perfect at the job. I think Mayor Miller did a good job overall!
I acknowledge his successes as much as his faults and wish him all the best in the future.
Mayor Miller, despite all the negative comments chronicled here, is a role model for the people of Toronto and one good Leader, both from his professional life and personal.
I'm really surprised at the dislike in the comments above for the Mayor. While you can be short-sighted now and get caught up in foolishness like the garbage strike, his legacy will be pretty great.
To quote the Globe:
"He has secured billions of new financing for a sweeping expansion of public transit, boosted city revenues by introducing two new taxes, pushed ahead with long-stalled waterfront renewal and worked to make Toronto a “green” city with new plans for bike paths and green roofs."
What do I remember from Lastman days?
* a mayor who had all the charm of a discount furniture dealer
* public infrastructure investment including things like a downtown concrete square and a subway to a part of the city that i still have never found a reason to use
* a mayor who represents our city by joking about being boiled alive by Africans
* the MFP scandal
* a public-service strike
What do I remember from Miller days?
* a mayor who'd talk intelligently and proudly about our city and his plans for it
* a waterfront that's finally becoming a nice place to be.
* a major light rail plan and transit investment
* a public service strike
* major public arts events
* public service strike
I'm sad to see him go, but I feel like the progress and dreaming of a better Toronto has been slowed by the naysayers, uncooperative levels of government, and the public becoming complacent. Just look at the stats vs comments on here. Far more people would have re-elected him, and yet, the majority of comments/people voicing their opinions are celebrating his departure. Maybe a new candidate will at least get Toronto dreaming about the future/rallying behind the things they care about again.
What do I remember from Lastman days?
* a mayor who had all the charm of a discount furniture dealer
* public infrastructure investment including things like a downtown concrete square and a subway to a part of the city that i still have never found a reason to use
* a mayor who represents our city by joking about being boiled alive by Africans
* the MFP scandal
* a public-service strike
What do I remember from Miller days?
* a mayor who'd talk intelligently and proudly about our city and his plans for it
* a waterfront that's finally becoming a nice place to be.
* a major light rail plan and transit investment
* a public service strike
* major public arts events
* public service strike
I'm sad to see him go, but I feel like the progress and dreaming of a better Toronto has been slowed by the naysayers, uncooperative levels of government, and the public becoming complacent. Just look at the stats vs comments on here. Far more people would have re-elected him, and yet, the majority of comments/people voicing their opinions are celebrating his departure. Maybe a new candidate will at least get Toronto dreaming about the future/rallying behind the things they care about again.
(reposted to fix formatting)
"The comments posted here demonstrate exactly why people in Toronto are not liked. "
Dude, if you think other Canadians aren't just as crusty, you either have never been to anywhere else in Canada or you are a fool. I have lived all over Canada and nobody has any reason to hate Torontonians more than anyone else. As Canadians we are complainers!!! So enough with trying to simplify something complex that you could never hope to understand.
what a bunch of whining piss pants.
Miller was average. Not awesome. But he wasn't a piece of shit like Lastman.
Got some good long range balls rolling.
Stop crybabying about the garbage strike.
The problem is and always will be: city politics are a nightmare of shit. Nobody decent wants the jobs so we get idiot dork councillors, so it doesn't matter how amazing the mayor candidate is. Toronto will always be in a quagmire of stupid because of the city council of morons.
This city has such great potential but the citizens keep electing jackasses to represent their neighbourhoods.
I would just like to state that my dislike for Miller has nothing to do with the Garbage strike (although I agree that he caused it and made it worse as it went, then lost anyway).
It has to do with him being a fear-monger. He took a "my way or the highway" approach to many problems. I remember when he wanted to raise taxes.. he basically said if we didn't like it, he would pull essential services like police, fire and ambulance. And that's not the only time he's done things like that. And the way I see it, that's no way to run a city. It's more like a way to run a dictatorship.
Getting a new mayor, whatever his or her stripe, isn't going to help the fact that city coucillors appear to be elected for life. The challenger has to have extremely deep roots in the community or a heavy duty issue that pissed off the entire ward. The only incumbent defeated in the last election was beaten by a former MPP and North York councillior in Ward 8. The only case of an incumbent losing in 2003's election, that I can think of, was Stinz defeating the long standing Anne Johnston over the Minto tower project at Yonge and Eglinton.
There are some serious duds amongst that group of 44. Municipalities are set up to favour intransigence and obstructionism.
@ steph:
bring mel back? are you drunk?
thank you "aaron" for a very sober entry and look at Mel's debacles and Miller's battles and successes.
I'm curious to see what he does in the last 15 months of his term. He doesn't have to fight for reelection, can he do what he really wants to now?
I agree with those calling for more respect. There are certain things he did that annoyed me (island airport; behaviour during the strike) but, like Chester Pape said, he did a satisfactory job keeping the city running. The aggressive focus on greening the city was admirable and I hope his successor maintains it.
I also agree with the comments about the councillors. The real problem are the other members of counsil, the ones who have been sitting for decades with little to show for it. They face little accountability during an election and I think the people of Toronto need to do more to make sure they have to fight for reelection. The culture of council isn't the mayor's fault alone.
More poll "other" responses:
Sad, but curious about the next one.
Thanks!
Better the devil you know...
Miller sucks! Thank god!
Thank you! He was ruining this city by caving into every union demand
Good Riddance!
ABS (anybody but stintz)
Thanks Aaron, I think you nailed it:
What do I remember from Lastman days?
* a mayor who had all the charm of a discount furniture dealer
* public infrastructure investment including things like a downtown concrete square and a subway to a part of the city that i still have never found a reason to use
* a mayor who represents our city by joking about being boiled alive by Africans
* the MFP scandal
* a public-service strike
What do I remember from Miller days?
* a mayor who'd talk intelligently and proudly about our city and his plans for it
* a waterfront that's finally becoming a nice place to be.
* a major light rail plan and transit investment
* a public service strike
* major public arts events
* public service strike
Poll shows 51% want him re-elected. Good, the majority of the people want to thank him for a job well done. Thank you Mr. Miller. It is a tough job and you've handled it with grace, confidence, tenacity and vigor.
Pushing the city's agenda is tough and I don't see how Stintz, Smitherman or Tory will get a nickle more out of the feds or province.
After the horrors of Mel Lastman, David Miller did a fantastic job. I worry that now we'll end up with another right-wing swing and Toronto will suffer badly again, and go downhill. I especially worry that we'll slide back away from the green program and that developers will rule the roost even more than they do now.
Miller's a good guy. And way better than that little runt who held the mayor's office before him.
And the people who complain about Miller now, will vote for Tory or Smitherman, and in a few years, people will be complaining about Tory or Smitherman. That's the way politics works.
At least Miller will have more time now to attend TFC games down at BMO Field. I suspect I'll see him in his season's seats more often. That's the life!
Some amazing comments in this thread, and some utter pissant bullshit.
Miller had some genuine accomplishments and some genuine failures, like every other human being on Earth.
It sometimes seems many people don't CARE about positive change, but really, truly, LOVE to sit back and complain. Pointless, infantile, petty, masturbatory egotism. People by and large do get the government they deserve.
People are going to be sorry when they see who their choices are in the next election...
Mayors don't work alone people.
Aaron -- you nailed it, dude.
Is Miller perfect? No, of course not. But compared to the last idiot that held the job, he's been excellent.
People have very short memories when it comes to politics. Or perhaps a lot of commenters weren't old enough to vote back in '99, when our former mayor made us into a national joke by calling in the army to shovel our snow?
Thank God!!!!
Hopefully Jarek is right and that TC get's kiboshed as soon as we get a new Mayor (pretty much guaranteed unless we get Giambrone or Vaughan... don't think either have a chance after Miller's failure, their horrible reputations, and even more radical politics).
As to people complaining about the Sheppard subway - it was out of order (several other lines should have been done ahead of it) but it was exactly what we want from a subway. Sheppard is massively intensified with that part of North York being completely very high density. Exactly what kind of development we should be aiming for around all subway stations and all subway expansions. Stupidly corrupt in execution (should have done Eg or DRL first) but otherwise perfect.
What we now need is to remove all councillors and every non emergency services employee.
I'll miss Mayor Miller.
Some things didn't go well, and I feel bitter about the issues, but it's not like I think someone else could have handled them better. He was one of the brightest mayors of Toronto, and I'd like to thank him for his hard work.
'Mr. Hate' 4 Mayor.
'Miller was average. Not awesome. But he wasn't a piece of shit like Lastman.
Got some good long range balls rolling.
Stop crybabying about the garbage strike.
The problem is and always will be: city politics are a nightmare of shit. Nobody decent wants the jobs so we get idiot dork councillors, so it doesn't matter how amazing the mayor candidate is. Toronto will always be in a quagmire of stupid because of the city council of morons.
This city has such great potential but the citizens keep electing jackasses to represent their neighbourhoods.'
Totally and fully.
It's too bad David Miller will not seek re-election for a third term. I think he took alot of chances and had a vision that no one else has had in this city. I also think that he handled the strike well. What else could he have done. I took my garbage to an arena as opposed to my curb. So what? Who's going to be our next Mayor? God help us.
i am so sad. miller did so much good for this city. i honeslty am having a hard time thinking of someone that could even come close to his leadership. perhaps gerrard kennedy could be a good candidate if willing to leave federal politics.
Miller was and is intelligent and passionate, opinionated and strong-willed. Exactly the characteristics one wants from a leader. However, Miller is leading the equivalent of a 44-member kindergarten class down there at Queen and Bay. While I don't agree with everything Miller did, as a city I think we are headed in the right direction. As long as the long-range projects like Transit City remain, history will look kindly on David Miller's mayoralty.
On another note, I'm actually scared and concerned about the election now. Who the hell's going to step up with some leadership? Somehow I don't think it's going to be failed leader Johny Tory, radio show or not.
And more poll "other" comments:
I want someone smart.
Someone new but BETTER, not small government, visionless people
Worse than MEL!
LOSER. GLAD HE IS GOING.
I don't they're all idiots!!!
HUZZAH!!!!
I hope Rob Ford runs. Not because I want him to win, I'd just like to see how many people actually think his "vision" of running the city is legitimate. Although if he did win he would make Mel Lastman look like Fiorello LaGuardia.
My gawd... 49% just proved how moronic they are... Miller was the WORST... no money managing skills, leftist-socialist, and worst of all, a pushover wussy.
How many new taxes, levies, hikes, etc. were under him? How much money was wasted in the name of the green movement yet there was nothing to show for it? How much money has he taken from the working-class people of Toronto, of which they never saw again in the form of programs, recreational activities, etc? How many after-school programs were cancelled, pools closed, schools shut, etc. because there was no money for it?
Not to mention all that money earmarked for useless future projects that will plunge TO in further debt, all the union payouts and surrenders to them, also all proposals of using taxpayer money to fund their own personal things such as lawsuits, and don't forget they voted for raises under the radar without anyone knowing about it.
Good riddance. I just hope we don't get another leftist who doesn't have a clue on how to manage money or plan for the future.
Personally, I thought Miller did an excellent job. I was very sad when I heard he was not running again. Bitch and moan all you want about the garbage strike, the things he did for this city were tremendous. No one can please everyone, but Miller at least bothered to consider everyone... unlike so many other candidates we have had to pick from, or past mayors.
As for John Tory, always a bridesmaid, never a bride. I'd be worried that he was running if he were not the most chronically unelectable man in our province.
I was proud to volunteer for David Miller's first run for mayor. I've never volunteered for a political campaign (before or since), but he inspired me. He is passionate, intelligent, dynamic, and committed. To all the punks on here calling him names (and even those calling Mel Lastman names, though I'm no fan of his): you should be ashamed of yourselves. I want to lie down and take a nap just thinking about how much time and energy and sacrifice this man gave to make our city a better place.
His vision may not have matched yours (it would be so much better to pay no taxes and have no public transit, no parks, more gridlock and pollution, no social services, etc.) but at least he HAS a vision and has devoted his life to making this city a better place for all of us.
I'll miss you Mayor Miller. I'm glad your family is finally getting you back though.
Thank you David Miller for taxing us to death and not decreasing the city spending one penny. Now go to hell.
Your hate does not look good on you.
Miller wasn't perfect but do you really think he deserves this kind of vitriol?
Give your head a shake and move on.
Hopefully this means we can get a mayor who wants what's best for the city rather than just what's best for his union buddies.
Where is the broom from 2003, Miller because use it to sweep your own pathetic ass out the door.
BroomHilda's Accomplishments?
Waterfront - I like the condo city blocking the view of the lake
Transit Plan - gridlock, gridlock, gridlock, no new bike lanes,
subway extensions non-existent, TTC hikes & strikes
Taxes - just like McFibber, McMiller complained, complained & then
got his Toronto Power Act & what did he do RAISE taxes
every politician does
Crime - watch CityTv
Environment - good job here (green roofs)
But this guy bankrupted the city with poor leadership & financial mismanagement (Dash Domi/Jacobsen computer scandal) & a lack of execution.
& family as the reason, NO, Tory/Smitherman, poll numbers, etc. Just keep an eye on his next job & see the time he spends at it. Family is always used as the great excuse to leave with your head held high.
Adieu Miller, adieu!!
Just some fact checking here. Time to turn off Citytv or come out from the rock you live under.
Waterfront: Condo city was already in the works when Miller came into office. In fact he has worked to improve the waterfront with parks etc (some of which has yet to be realized yet)
Transit Plan: Um, have you not heard of Transit City? This isn't cheap but he's gotten the fed and prob to step up to create these subway extensions you've obviously never heard from. Also, NO new bike lanes? C'mon. Its definitely not enough buy yes hundreds of km of bikelanes have been created with more to come.
Taxes - Agree with you here.
Crime - Isn't it down in the city? And quoting CityTv does not exactly help your credibility
Environment - made some good headway
Dash/Domi - this was under the Lastman era btw
If you want an educated opinion on Miller's accomplishments and failings, check this out.
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/toronto/how-torontos-golden-boy-lost-his-shine/article13025
Haha, have you guys seen this? Miller RT'd it:
http://thealbatross.ca/2009/09/david-miller-i-need-more-twitter-time/
City politicians who took campaign contributions from landlords, developers and other businesses in 2006. This was from a newsreport I saved from 2007.
THOSE WHO TAKES LITTLE MONEY
Ward Candidate Landlords/Dev Other Businesses
Mayor David Miller 0.0% 0.0%
1 Suzan Hall 7.8 20.6
4 Gloria Lindsay Luby 12.3 10.5
8 Anthony Perruzza 10.3 5.8
9 Maria Augimeri 13.5 11.4
14 Gord Perks 0.6 0.0
15 Howard Moscoe 6.5 13.9
18 Adam Giambrone 7.8 1.6
19 Joe Pantalone 0.0 0.0
20 Adam Vaughan 0.0 0.0
21 Joe Mihevc 0.0 0.0
22 Michael Walker 0.0 0.0
23 John Filion 6.5 7.0
25 Cliff Jenkins 0.0 0.0
27 Kyle Rae 0.0 0.0
28 Pam McConnell 0.0 0.0
30 Paula Fletcher 0.9 0.0
31 Janet Davis 0.0 0.5
32 Sandra Bussin 0.0 11.1
33 Shelly Carroll 11.1 12.0
35 Adrian Heaps 0.6 2.8
38 Glenn De Baeremaeker 10.4 8.3
40 Norm Kelly 6.2 14.7
41 Chin Lee 1.6 9.8
42 Raymond Cho 0.0 3.2
44 Ron Moeser 0.0 1.4
THOSE WHO TAKES LOTS OF MONEY
2 Rob Ford 32.5 24.2
3 Doug Holiday 24.0 28.3
5 Peter Milczyn 41.7 26.4
6 Mark Grimes 22.6 18.8
7 Giorgio Mammoliti 41.4 26.0
10 Michael Feldman 29.6 16.1
11 Frances Nunziata 39.1 32.9
12 Frank Di Giorgio 39.5 27.5
13 Bill Saundercook 17.5 31.4
16 Karen Stintz 47.0 2.0
17 Cesar Palacio 37.4 2.1
24 David Shiner 25.5 21.3
26 John Parker 25.4 17.4
29 Case Ootes 28.1 30.2
34 Denzil Minnan-Wong 32.5 30.0
36 Brian Ashton 30.4 15.6
37 Michael Thompson 20.0 28.9
39 Mike Del Grande 37.5 10.7
43 Paul Ainslie 27.3 24.0
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