Toronto Votes - Main
The fringe takes centre stage
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One, Mitch Gold, ran last time with the slogan "Go for Gold but vote for Miller." This time, he's asking people to go and vote for Gold as well. A unique figure in his straw hat and hand-painted buckskin jacket, you can see him zipping along city sidewalks on a large scooter. Gold goes to all the mayoral debates and makes his presence known by shouting "empty words, empty words" after Mayor David Miller speaks.
Joel Rubinovitch is getting increasingly testy as he is ignored at the mayoral debates. Several weeks ago, a forum was held at the St. Lawrence Centre that was open to all the candidates for mayor. About 35 showed up. Rubinovitch argued the brief sound bites each candidate was allowed weren't enough. Despite being an unknown, he argued he is a serious candidate with serious issues. He asked why he was not included in the debates, while a latecomer like Stephen LeDrew is somehow granted official sanction.
That's the same argument made by Kevin Clarke. Clarke, a homeless advocate who is sometimes homeless himself, recently hijacked the debate at Hart House. Taking to the stage, he waved a broom and demanded to be part of the proceedings. He pointed out that LeDrew has never run in a public election or held office. Clarke said he has run in three municipal elections, and didn't come in last place.
Another of the so-called fringe candidates, Shaun Bruce, probably won't be for long. He's young, articulate, and photogenic. In his early twenties, he's running to give a voice to young people. At the Hart House debate, Miller only half joked that Bruce deserved to be onstage along with Jane Pitfield and LeDrew.
I agree with how these so called "fringe candidates" are feeling in regards to them being under-represented in not only political events but also in the municipal election campaign coverages by various media outlets. I think the larger question that arises here is, is it not undemocratic to over-represent three mainstream candidates while essentially ignoring the rest? I think our media need to devote more time and focus to candidates who may not be mainstream, but are nonetheless serious about running for mayor, for they too deserve an equal opportunity to voice their concerns and thus allow voters to make truly informed decisions when they decide who to vote for.