Former mayoral candidate Sarah Thomson, who lives downtown, wants to be appointed to fill the Etobicoke council seat that will be vacated next month by either Councillor Doug Holyday or Councillor Peter Milczyn.

Holyday (Ward 3, Etobicoke Centre) and Milczyn (Ward 5, Etobicoke-Lakeshore) are competing in an Etobicoke-Lakeshore provincial byelection. The vote is Aug. 1.

Council can either appoint someone to replace the winner or call a byelection. Because there will be just months until the 2014 campaign period begins in January, an appointment is a strong possibility.

Thomson began lobbying for the seat through her assistant on Friday. The assistant, Sarah Patterson, touted Thomson to councillors after interviewing them on an unrelated issue.

Thomson, who lives near Bloor St. and Sherbourne St., said in an interview she would promise not to run again in Etobicoke. She said she wants to serve the area for a brief period to better appreciate its needs.

“We’ve been talking in the office about how it would be great for downtown councillors just to go out and trade spots with the suburban councillors, so they could understand each other’s issues. And then I thought, you know what, if they do appoint someone, I’d love to get that position so I could understand what it’s like to have to serve a suburb like that. So I thought maybe I should put my name forward to do that.”

Thomson said she may run for mayor or for a downtown seat in 2014. She polled as high as third place in the 2010 mayoral race before she dropped out and endorsed George Smitherman.

Thomson, who publishes the Women’s Post, has since become a transit advocate. She made headlines earlier this year when she accused Mayor Rob Ford of groping her. Ford vehemently denied the accusation.

Thomson is unlikely to be appointed. Left-leaning councillors may support NDP-affiliated former councillor Irene Jones, who represented a ward in Etobicoke-Lakeshore. Progressive Conservative Holyday, meanwhile, said he has his own nominee in mind. He said Thomson is merely seeking “an opportunity.”

Milczyn, a Liberal, said Thomson, also a Liberal, has offered to volunteer on his campaign. He said she “would not necessarily be the one of the first people who would come to mind for serving as a councillor for Ward 5.”

“As far as I know, she’s not from the ward. Or nearby,” Milczyn said.

One of Holyday’s staffers is former Etobicoke MPP Morley Kells. Holyday would not name his preferred replacement, but said the individual lives in his ward and is “recognized in Etobicoke.”