This might be the most exciting new candidate for Toronto mayor
The election for mayor of Toronto is just two weeks away, and media coverage of the race's top contenders is ramping up.
As the debates rage on, two out of 35 candidates vying for a spot at the helm of the city have all but monopolized the press: incumbent mayor John Tory, naturally, and his supposed main opponent, former City of Toronto chief Planner Jennifer Keesmaat.
Since Keesmaat's entry into the race against her former boss, the Johnny vs. Jenny rivalry has been the major through-line of the election so far. One could almost be led to believe the whole thing is a two-horse race.
In the wake of World Deaf Day, watch this mini tutorial on how to sign "Toronto", film your best "Hello Toronto" and send it back!! 😍 #thisiswhatamayorlookslike 🇨🇦 pic.twitter.com/MCtRPOWr8t
— Saron Gebresellassi (@SaronGeb) October 1, 2018
But just beyond the limelight, another candidate is slowly gaining traction with a bold platform and, arguably, some of the best debate performances so far.
Twitter: The question is, do you believe that transit is a right, like healthcare and education. Reply with a Yes or No pic.twitter.com/TEdiEuOni9
— Saron Gebresellassi (@SaronGeb) October 3, 2018
Saron Gebresellassi, a 31-year-old lawyer, has been making some impressive jabs at Tory and Keesmaat, giving both longtime political heavyweights a run for their money at the debate hosted by Global News.
Aside from being the youngest candidate by at least a decade or two to participate in the televised debates, the Eritrean-Canadian activist-turned-lawyer is the only woman of colour in the core group of candidates.
As a young lawyer, the Ryerson grad has taken on some very high-profile civil rights cases representing women, including suing Starbucks for $1 million, and fighting a maternity-leave dismissal.
Twitter: What's your favorite street in Toronto?
— Saron Gebresellassi (@SaronGeb) October 5, 2018
My favorite street in Toronto is Eglinton Avenue West, which is where I grew up in Toronto Community Housing. York Square produced some of the best and brightest young people in the city today. #thisiswhatamayorlookslike 🇨🇦 pic.twitter.com/GxEcaEs53m
Having moved to Toronto from Eritrea in 1989 and grown up in York Square community housing by Jane and Lawrence, Gebresellassi's platform is taking a heavy stance on policing and affordable housing.
Gebresellassi has put the heat on Keesmaat and Tory on the issue, and says if elected, she'll declare a state of emergency for the issue, calling for 20,000 new affordable housing units.
Ironic. Only mayoral candidate from the transit debate who actually took the TTC! This is who should lead this city. Someone real. Authentic. @SaronGeb #transitdebateTO https://t.co/kMTJzEPPIn
— polarbear (@melodyDDF) September 27, 2018
She's also proposing to make public transit completely free for everyone: something that neither Keesmaat nor Tory have even mentioned working toward, let alone implementing.
On the way to the transit debate! pic.twitter.com/oqmacTv1Uk
— Saron Gebresellassi (@SaronGeb) September 26, 2018
She did Tweet that she'd be a little late to the Mayoral Transit Debate in Scarborough last month, but to be fair, she was taking the TTC there.
Aside from knowing sign language—which not many candidates do—Gebresellassi also plays the flute, which is pretty cool too.
Saron Gebresellassi
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