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| Re-elected in November ] with an 80% majority, his closest opponent, civic activist ], drew just a little more than 8% of the vote. | Re-elected in November ] with an 80% majority, his closest opponent, civic activist ], drew just a little more than 8% of the vote. | ||
| Lastman shared Gomberg's three main campaign planks |
Lastman shared Gomberg's three main campaign planks: committing Toronto to 100% ] diversion by ] to replace the controversial ] plan, agreeing with Prime Minister ] to end ] in Toronto, and appointing ], the ethicist and urbanist to head the ] to explore the potential for ]. Jacobs had publicly endorsed Gomberg. | ||
| Lastman was quite outspoken on almost anything on his mind, which could be both advantageous and problematic. As a result, he was highly prone to committing public gaffes. When campaigning for Toronto's failed bid to host the ], Lastman was quoted as saying ""What the hell do I want to go to a place like ]?... I just see myself in a pot of boiling water with all these natives dancing around me." While later answering questions at a press conference as to whether the ] had been caused by problems at a Toronto power plant, Lastman angrily asked rhetorically "When have you ever heard the United States take the blame for anything? This is no different." | Lastman was quite outspoken on almost anything on his mind, which could be both advantageous and problematic. As a result, he was highly prone to committing public gaffes. When campaigning for Toronto's failed bid to host the ], Lastman was quoted as saying ""What the hell do I want to go to a place like ]?... I just see myself in a pot of boiling water with all these natives dancing around me." While later answering questions at a press conference as to whether the ] had been caused by problems at a Toronto power plant, Lastman angrily asked rhetorically "When have you ever heard the United States take the blame for anything? This is no different." | ||
Revision as of 11:26, 14 July 2004
Mel Lastman (b. 1933 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada), was the mayor of the former city of North York from 1972 until 1998. In 1998, North York amalgamated with the city of Toronto. Lastman ran for and won the mayoral race for the new city, beating incumbent Toronto mayor Barbara Hall. Re-elected in November 2000, he chose to serve his final term. Lastman did not run for the 2003 municipal election.
Mel Lastman currently holds the record as the longest-serving mayor of any major city in the world.
Outside of his political career, Lastman ran a discount furniture store, Bad Boy Furniture. It eventually went bankrupt, but was later resurrected later by his son.
Re-elected in November 2000 with an 80% majority, his closest opponent, civic activist Tooker Gomberg, drew just a little more than 8% of the vote.
Lastman shared Gomberg's three main campaign planks: committing Toronto to 100% recycling diversion by 2010 to replace the controversial Adams Mine Dump plan, agreeing with Prime Minister Jean Chrétien to end homelessness in Toronto, and appointing Jane Jacobs, the ethicist and urbanist to head the Toronto Charter Committee to explore the potential for more autonomy for Toronto. Jacobs had publicly endorsed Gomberg.
Lastman was quite outspoken on almost anything on his mind, which could be both advantageous and problematic. As a result, he was highly prone to committing public gaffes. When campaigning for Toronto's failed bid to host the 2008 Summer Olympics, Lastman was quoted as saying ""What the hell do I want to go to a place like Mombasa?... I just see myself in a pot of boiling water with all these natives dancing around me." While later answering questions at a press conference as to whether the 2003 U.S.-Canada blackout had been caused by problems at a Toronto power plant, Lastman angrily asked rhetorically "When have you ever heard the United States take the blame for anything? This is no different."
On November 10, 2003, David Miller was elected to replace him as city mayor. Lastman retired from politics, due to his deteriorating health.