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David Miller’s trademark broom disappeared in this Toronto election, leaving the sweeping to the voters as the mayor destroyed his closest competitor, Jane Pitfield, last night to earn a second term.
Miller is vowing to use his commanding victory as a tool to extract more money from the provincial and federal governments, especially with a provincial election on tap for next year.
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Miller, 47, the married father of two, Julia, 11, and Simon, 8, is back for four more years under the new rules.
The mayor’s salary will rise from $147,857 to $160,000 after council gave themselves a pay increase Clearly in the driver’s seat from the start, Miller ran a conservative campaign with no wild promises.
His promises would tack an extra $248.6 million onto the city’s budget.
His plan to boost the transit system by putting buses and streetcars on reserved lanes accounts for the lion’s share of his planned spending — $200 million over four years.
As part of his anti-crime plan, Miller will spend $13 million over the next term on playgrounds, basketball courts and other improvements in the city’s 13 poorest neighbourhoods. He’s also pledged to spend $10 million next term to waive fees for city recreational programs in those areas.
Cash earmarked for cleaning and beautifying the city, Live with Culture and AIDS prevention grants account for the remaining $25 .6 million of Miller’s proposed spending.
Miller has also said he’ll be demanding 1˘ from the PST or GST and will not take no for an answer.
He’s also pledged to increase diversion from landfill to 70% by 2010 and have all the parks on the waterfront finished by then, too.
In 2003, Miller called a special council meeting to stop the island airport bridge. There isn’t a similar pressing issue this year.
Miller said one of his first priorities is to take another run at installing a mandatory lobbyist registry for anyone who wants to bid on a city procurement contract, including unions and not-for profit organizations.
Outgoing city budget chief David Soknacki said Miller has set his goals for the term and — even though they are safe — he better attain every one of them.
“It’s essential for him to exceed expectations,” Soknacki said. “If expectations were too high last time, perhaps they are too low this time.”