In a city where the only constant in recent years has been rapid change, Torontonians have voted for more of the same.That’s the most obvious conclusion to be drawn from Mayor John Tory’s convincing re-election win — capturing about 64 per cent of the vote — in Monday’s municipal election.For as long as he’s been mayor, and throughout the campaign, people have told pollsters they’re pretty happy with the job Tory is doing and the direction the city is going in. Tory’s campaign platform could be best summarized as “steady as she goes,” avoiding any big, bold new promises and instead focusing on incremental progress on initiatives he’s already introduced, and on trying to get along with whoever governs the province and the country. In an election that offered confusion and surprises (mostly courtesy of the premier’s office), the incumbent mayor’s flavour of bland worked.No huge surprise.What was a surprise, midway through the campaign, was that the former head of the city’s planning department, Jennifer Keesmaat, jumped into the race and made it interesting. Though she’ll surely be disappointed with her 24 per cent of the vote and second-place finish, she can hold her head high. As can political newcomer Saron Gebresellassi, who, despite drawing only about 2 per cent of the vote, brought much-needed energy to every debate in which she appeared. Both losing candidates surely have a future in politics, if they want one.That’s most obviously true of Keesmaat, about whom rumours of political ambition have long circulated and who some suggest might be a potential provincial Liberal leader. From a standing start on the last day of nominations in July, she provided a genuine challenge to Tory’s leadership, injecting new ideas along the way.Read more:Opinion | Martin Regg Cohn: John Tory’s real opponent was never Jennifer Keesmaat, it was and always will be Doug For ...
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