Today the Liberals announced their candidate to run in the November 23rd Byelection in Vaughan Ontario. The Liberals have a lot riding on this contest, as this is a longtime Liberal seat close to Toronto that would be extremely embarrassing to lose. I don't yet know much about Tony Genco, other than what is on his website, which doesn't reveal much. Thursday the Globe speculated that he would get the nomination and described him as "a businessman from the riding who is involved in a lot of community initiatives and charities."
He will be running against a big name in former Ontario Police Commissioner Julian Fantino. Jane Taber, who has inside access to closed door Liberal strategy sessions wrote: "It seems that Mr. Ignatieff is rather anxious about this by-election – and he has good reason to be. Mr. Fantino, the former Toronto police chief and recently retired Ontario Provincial Police commissioner, is well-known in the riding and instantly recognizable; he also plays well to the Conservatives’ law-and-order agenda."
Tony wants your feedback on how to build a more progressive and compassionate Vaughan. And please, no jokes about "Chubby Chasers". That kind of low brow humour won't get you anywhere in politics...
I googled Tony Genco, and found his facebook account. It says that he is a "fan" of "Miley Cyrus." That in itself is the biggest reason why nobody should vote for him.
ReplyDeleteJokes aside, I think Fantino has a lot more experience and credibility in public service and hopefully he'll win that one for us.
I found a couple of links (from the left) on Genco earlier today. http://twitter.com/#!/Albertaardvark/status/28624368253
ReplyDeletehttp://is.gd/ggp84
http://is.gd/ggoWA
http://ca.linkedin.com/pub/tony-genco/17/193/5
ReplyDeleteIn essence it smells of a career liberal, board of directors for a hospital, CEO of Downsview Park which is federal land.
Oink, Oink, Oink
Gerry
Yes, but the real problem is the candidacy of Mr Fantino. Even allowing for the partisan nature of the conservative blogs, the man seems to have been a disaster as a senior police officer, preferring political correctness to justice (let alone equality before the law).
ReplyDeleteWere I in that riding, I think I'd refuse my ballot.
Tony Genco is a little more than just "a local businessman".
ReplyDeleteAccording to Pundits Guide, who is usually very accurate, "Mr. Genco has a background as a political aide at Queen's Park and on Parliament Hill, working for Art Eggleton on National Defence files. He was appointed by the former government to run "Downsview Park" which was to manage the lands formerly belonging to CFB Downview. The current government declined to re-appoint him, but not long afterwards he was hired as the CEO of the North York regional hospital Board of Trustees".
Career liberal would pretty well sum it up.
If you followed the results of the recent election in Vaughan, you will have noted the voting patterns. Although there was a mood for the need for change, Bevilacqua not was elected but he was landslide victor. In addition, DiBiase was re-elected despite his outstanding charges. This is no doubt in part due to both of these individuals being well recognized among the electors who include a large portion of senior aged Italians. Fantino is yet another strong name they'll recognize and you can mark my words, we'll see results that closely resemble those of Bevilacqua.
ReplyDeleteFantino is a dinosauer ... who spent the better part of his last 5 years with his feet in his mouth or stuck in the mud. Help this guy into retirement, where he's less a danger to himself as well as others.
ReplyDeleteI was involved in the Federal election of 1988 and the by-election of 1990, the latter won by Bevilacqua with about 50% of the vote, the NDP with 30% (this was a month after the Provincial election...). In 1988, Bevilacqua and the PC candidate were so closely tied that a court-ordered by-election was required. Of course, in those days the riding included Richmond Hill and Aurora, now it is much more Italian. Given the trends in suburban Toronto and in Ontario overall, I would expect a landslide for Fantino, but in this close-knit community people keep their preferences close to their chests until the votes are counted.
ReplyDeleteIs Fantino the "FACE of GREED"?
ReplyDeleteHe has a multi million pension from city of Toronto....another multi million from Ontario....and now he is shooting for a third...
Retire already and give some other more capable person a chance.