Maria Augimeri

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Maria Augimeri
Augimeri in 2008
Toronto City Councillor for (Ward 9) York Centre
In office
December 1, 2000 – December 1, 2018
Preceded byWard Created
Succeeded byJames Pasternak
Chair of the Toronto Transit Commission
In office
February 19, 2014 – November 30, 2014
Preceded byKaren Stintz
Succeeded byJosh Colle
Toronto City Councillor for (Ward 7) Black Creek
In office
January 1, 1998 – December 1, 2000
Preceded byWard Created
Succeeded byWard Abolished
Metro Toronto City Councillor for Black Creek
In office
December 1, 1988 – January 1, 1998
Preceded byWard Created
Succeeded byCity Amalgamated
North York City Councillor for Ward 5
In office
December 1, 1985 – December 1, 1988
Succeeded byAnthony Perruzza
Personal details
Born1954 (age 69–70)
Italy
Political partyNew Democratic Party
SpouseOdoardo Di Santo
Residence(s)Toronto, Ontario
OccupationSocial Anthropologist
Websitemariaaugimeri.com

Maria Augimeri (/ˌɔːɪˈmɛəri/ AW-jim-AIR-ee, Italian: [maˈriːa audʒiˈmɛːri]; born c. 1954[1]) is a Canadian politician. From 1985 to 2018, she served as a local politician in Toronto, holding office as a school board trustee, and as a council member in North York, Metropolitan Toronto, and on Toronto City Council. In 2019, Augimeri stood as the New Democratic candidate for the riding of Humber River-Black Creek.

Background[edit]

Born in Italy, Augimeri moved to Canada with her family at the age of 2. Before entering politics, she was a Social Anthropologist at York University. She has written three books on the Italian-Canadian community and is also a published poet.

Politics[edit]

She first entered politics as a school trustee, and was elected to the city council of North York in 1985. She ran for the Ontario New Democratic Party in the 1987 provincial election in the riding of Downsview which her husband, Odoardo Di Santo, held for ten years before losing in the 1985 election. She lost to Liberal Laureano Leone by 174 votes.

Augimeri was elected to the Metro Toronto council in 1988, and remained on that council until the creation of the new city of Toronto in 1997. She was elected councillor to the new city council three times. She was known for promoting environmental awareness and cultural issues.

She was endorsed for re-election by the Toronto Star newspaper in 2003.[2]

The local weekly newspaper Now Magazine also gave her an endorsement in 2000.[3]

On August 10, 2008, a massive propane explosion in Augimeri's ward destroyed a propane distribution facility which caused the evacuation of thousands of residents. Augimeri cut short a summer vacation in Italy and returned to Toronto to assist with the situation. During a press conference, she became involved in a heated discussion with Tony Di Santo, head of the local ratepayer's group. She said, "If people have problems of a partisan nature they should not be using the death of a firefighter... So shut up!" Later she apologized for losing her temper.[4][5][6]

2010 municipal election[edit]

The 2010 Toronto municipal election was held on October 25. Augimeri won by an 89-vote margin (0.7%) over local businessman Gus Cusimano. Augimeri thanked her supporters the following day on October 26, 2010, when she said, "I know a lot of the community voted for me because they know I'm the one to protect community interests."[7]

Cusimano later announced that he would challenge the results. The matter was heard in court on March 29, 2011.[8] The judge ruled that there were enough irregularities in the 2010 voting that the election should be held again. Initially the city's legal staff said they would be appealing the decision but on May 13 it was announced that the city would not launch an appeal. City Clerk Uli Watkiss said in a statement, "The decision to proceed with a by-election and resolve this matter as quickly as possible is in the best interest of the public, the individuals directly affected, and the workings of Council."[9] The mayor's office supported the decision. Rob Ford's press secretary Adrienne Batra said, "Obviously the mayor supported (Cusimano) during the general election and once the byelection gets under way he will be fully supporting him again."[10]

On May 16, Augimeri announced that she would be appealing the decision herself. Augimeri told media, "The clerk’s advice not to appeal does harm to taxpayers as well as to the integrity of our electoral system."[11] On August 4, the city reversed its decision and decided to join the appeal which was held in September 2011.[12] On December 19, the court ruled in Augimeri's favour. A three judge panel ruled that although 300 ballots were unsigned by electoral officers the people voting were very likely eligible to vote and that this would have no effect on the election. In a related judgement, they also ruled that Cusimano incorrectly voted in the Ward 9 election because he lived in another riding. They decided that no further action was necessary.[13]

Augimeri was appointed Chair of the Toronto Transit Commission in February 2014 upon the resignation of Karen Stintz to run for Mayor of Toronto in the 2014 Toronto election winning appointment over Josh Colle, Stintz's preferred successor.[14]

2014 municipal election[edit]

In the 2014 election, Augimeri again faced Cusimano, though defeated him by a larger margin (42.74% to 28.37%).

2018 Municipal Election[edit]

Following the election of Augimeri's former council colleague Doug Ford as Premier of Ontario, Ford's Progressive Conservative government passed legislation that reduced the number of seats on Toronto City Council from 47 to 25 immediately before the city's scheduled election. The legislation, referred to as the Better Local Government Act, merged wards being contested by Augimeri and another council colleague, James Pasternak. Augimeri lost to Pasternak by over 2000 votes, blaming the reduction in council seats for her loss and noting that she would have won in her old ward.[15]

Augimeri served as the chairperson of the Toronto and Region Conservation Authority (TRCA) Board of Directors until February 2019. In July 2019, Augimeri was replaced on the TRCA by a citizen appointee.

2019 Federal Election[edit]

In the October 21, 2019 Federal Election, Maria Augimeri was unable to unseat the long time Liberal incumbent in the Humber River-Black Creek riding, Judy Sgro. Ms. Sgro won with 22,983 votes, Ms. Augimeri with the NDP was a distant second at 7,126.

Election results[edit]

Federal[edit]

2019 Canadian federal election: Humber River—Black Creek
Party Candidate Votes % ±% Expenditures
Liberal Judy Sgro 23,187 61.1 -5.81 $93,410.00
New Democratic Maria Augimeri 7,198 19.0 +8.06 $18,120.64
Conservative Iftikhar Choudry 6,164 16.3 -3.96 $3,300.00
Green Mike Schmitz 804 2.1 +0.47 none listed
People's Ania Krosinska 402 1.1 none listed
United  Stenneth Smith 114 0.3 - $0.00
Marxist–Leninist Christine Nugent 89 0.2 -0.36 $0.00
Total valid votes/expense limit 37,958 100.0
Total rejected ballots 503
Turnout 38,461 56.8
Eligible voters 67,656
Liberal hold Swing -6.94
Source: Elections Canada[16][17]

Provincial[edit]

1987 Ontario general election: Downsview
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Laureano Leone 11,832 46.80 +2.88
New Democratic Maria Augimeri 11,658 46.11 +3.06
Progressive Conservative Drew McCreadie 1,788 7.07 −5.94
Total valid votes 25278 100.00

Municipal[edit]

Results of the October 22, 2018 Toronto - Ward 6 - York Centre Councillor Election
Candidate Popular vote Expenditures
Votes % ±%
James Pasternak (Incumbent) 11,559 47.61% -57.78% $67,212.21
Maria Augimeri (Incumbent) 9,223 37.99% -4.75% $66,209.39
Louise Russo 2,726 11.23% - $23,323.98
Edward Zaretsky 771 3.17 - -1
Total votes 24,279
Registered voters
1 These candidates did not submit official Financial Statements and are, therefore, ineligible to run in the
2022 Municipal election
Note: All Toronto Municipal Elections are officially non-partisan.
Note: Candidate campaign colours are based on the prominent colour used in campaign items (signs, literature, etc.)
and are used as a visual differentiation between candidates.
Sources: City of Toronto, "Election Results"
2014 Toronto election, Ward 9
Candidate Votes %
Maria Augimeri 6,373 42.74%
Gus Cusimano 4,230 28.37%
Anthony Fernando 3,367 22.58%
Danny Quattrociocchi 562 3.77%
Ances Hercules 248 1.66%
Wilson Basantes 130 0.87%
Total 14,910 100%
2010 Toronto election, Ward 9[18]
Candidate Votes %
Maria Augimeri 5,452 44.3
Gus Cusimano 5,363 43.6
Gianfranco Amendola 1,082 8.8
Wilson Basantes 259 2.1
Stefano Picone 142 1.2
Total 12,298 100
2006 Toronto election, Ward 9[19]
Candidate Votes %
Maria Augimeri 7,256 77.6
Vlad Protsenko 2,100 22.4
Total 9,356 100
2003 Toronto election, Ward 9[20]
Candidate Votes %
Maria Augimeri 7,898 74.1
Anna Oppedisano 1,061 9.9
Richard Baldachino 779 7.3
Annmarie Robb 487 4.5
Domenic D'Abruzzo 422 4.2
Total 10,647 100
2000 Toronto election, Ward 9[21]
Candidate Votes %
Maria Augimeri 8,698 72.3
Anna Oppedisano 2,816 23.4
Richard Baldachino 504 4.3
Total 12,018 100
1997 Toronto municipal election: Councillor, Ward Seven (two members elected)
Candidate Votes %
Maria Augimeri 11,243 28.01
Peter Li Preti 9,747 24.28
Maria Rizzo 8,850 22.05
Anthony Perruzza 6,347 15.81
Anna Stella 2,961 7.38
Jeanelle Julien 523 1.30
Abdulhaq Omar 467 1.16
Total valid votes 40,138 100.00

Works[edit]

  • Italian-Canadians, a cross section. 1978. National Congress of Italian-Canadians. Ottawa.
  • Calabrese folklore. 1985. National Museums of Canada. Ottawa.

Notes[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ "Maria Augimeri, NDP; Age: 33, North York alderman". April 9, 1987.
  2. ^ "Star's selections for city council". EDITORIAL Section. Toronto Star. November 7, 2003. pp. A26. Retrieved February 22, 2007.
  3. ^ Anderson, Scott; Enzo Di Matteo (November 9, 2000). "Now's Election PICKS a ward by ward voters' GUIDE". Newsfront. Now Magazine. Archived from the original on September 29, 2007. Retrieved February 22, 2007.
  4. ^ Alcoba, Natalie; Goldberg, Brianna (August 15, 2008). "Frustrations Spill Over at Meeting". National Post. Toronto, Ontario. p. A8. Retrieved January 6, 2024 – via newspapers.com.
  5. ^ Bielski, Zosia (August 14, 2008). "Residents, councillor spar near blast site". and "$300-million lawsuit filed against city". National Post. Toronto, Ontario. pp. A1–A8. Retrieved January 6, 2024 – via newspapers.com.
  6. ^ Hanes, Allison (August 15, 2008). "Councillor apologizes for outburst". National Post. Toronto, Ontario. p. A9. Retrieved January 6, 2024 – via newspapers.com.
  7. ^ Queen, Lisa; Sunshine Fannie (October 26, 2010). "Ward 9: Augimeri scores 89-vote victory". Inside Toronto. Toronto Community News. Retrieved December 7, 2010.
  8. ^ Nickle, David (February 4, 2011). "Ward 9 to be challenged in court". Inside Toronto. Toronto Community News. Retrieved February 16, 2011.
  9. ^ "Augimeri to face new vote". CBC Toronto. Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. May 13, 2011. Retrieved August 14, 2011.
  10. ^ Peat, Don (May 13, 2011). "Byelection a go in Augimeri's Ward 9". Toronto Sun. Retrieved August 14, 2011.
  11. ^ Alcoba, Natalie (May 16, 2011). "Councillor Augimeri to appeal byelection decision". National Post. Retrieved August 14, 2011.
  12. ^ Rider, David (August 4, 2011). "Mississauga asks to join Augimeri-Cusimano appeal". Toronto Star. TorStar. Retrieved August 14, 2011.
  13. ^ Dale, Daniel (December 19, 2011). "Ward 9 byelection rejected, Augimeri to stay". Toronto Star. TorStar. Retrieved December 19, 2011.
  14. ^ "History of Beach Metro News: The Beach was booming in 1982". September 20, 2011.
  15. ^ "James Pasternak beats fellow incumbent Maria Augimeri in Ward 6, York Centre | The Star". Toronto Star. Retrieved November 12, 2018.
  16. ^ "List of confirmed candidates". Elections Canada. Retrieved October 4, 2019.
  17. ^ "Election Night Results". Elections Canada. Retrieved November 4, 2019.
  18. ^ City of Toronto elections page Archived October 26, 2010, at the Wayback Machine
  19. ^ City Clerk's Official Declaration 2006 Archived June 7, 2011, at the Wayback Machine
  20. ^ City Clerk's Official Declaration 2003 Archived April 29, 2011, at the Wayback Machine
  21. ^ Toronto Election Results Ward 9 Archived October 14, 2012, at the Wayback Machine

External links[edit]