Morning Brew: Rob Ford wins the Toronto mayoralty and other election news
It's no surprise what the big story is this morning, so let me collect some reaction from the majors on Rob Ford's mayoral victory.
On Ford's win
"As for Ford, he is now mayor of all the people, not just those who voted for him in this hotly contested election. That means he has to reach out beyond the narrow confines of his campaign. As a magnanimous Smitherman said in his concession speech, "Toronto is too important" to carry on the divisive battles of the past year. He urged Ford to take steps to heal the divisions." - The Toronto Star
"The size and scope of Mr. Ford's victory - he garnered more votes than David Miller did in 2003 or 2006 - contradicted every recent poll and confirmed that traditionally progressive Toronto is angry enough about taxes and spending to overlook the Etobicoke councillor's history of gaffes and scandals." - The Globe and Mail
One can only imagine the horror in certain quarters. Uncouth, uncultured, suburban, journalist-chasing, drunk driving, marijuana-possessing Air Canada Centre ejectee and lone wolf former city councillor Rob Ford is mayor-elect of Toronto -- and not just by a little. Mayor David Miller congratulated him last night and so should everyone else. It sure won't help not to. - The National Post
Rob Ford has steamed his way from Etobicoke to City Hall, vowing Toronto will never be the same. The brash councillor with the rumpled suits and the simple message of cutting waste chugged his way to victory in the mayor's race, ploughing through the challenge of more polished opponents and seizing the imagination of voters...." - The Toronto Sun
Noteworthy news from council races
Although it was widely reported that Peter Milczyn had lost to Justin Di Ciano in Ward 5, when all the polls had reported, the incumbent and Rob Ford supporter, had in fact narrowly won by 109 votes.
Other incredibly tight races took place in Ward 9 (where Maria Augimeri took victory over Gus Cusimano) and Ward 30 (Where Paula Fletcher just held on toe beat Liz West).
Sandra Bussin was leveled in Ward 32 by Mary-Margaret McMahon, who took over 65% of the vote. Bussin joins Cliff Jenkins, Bill Saundercook and Suzan Hall as incumbents who were voted off the island.
Other races around the GTA
Other notable winners in mayoral races around the GTA included, unsurprisingly, Mississauga's Hazel McCallion, who pulled in about 76 per cent of the vote despite being dogged by scandal for much of the year. It's not up on YouTube yet, but she had a crazy post-victory interview with CP24 last night in which she called out the Star and claimed that print journalists distort the facts while television reporters tell it like it is.
Vaughan, meanwhile, has a new leader in Maurizio Bevilacqua, who trounced the incumbent, Linda Jackson.
For results from Oakvile and Milton, check here.
And for full results from all the council races, check out our Toronto Election 2010 Results post.
Photo by ~EvidencE~ in the blogTO Flickr pool.
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