A stacked councillor race is shaping up in Toronto’s youngest ward, with passionate rookie candidates and two high-profile veterans ready to face off.

Former Liberal MPP Han Dong and NDP-backed school board trustee Ausma Malik are both running in Ward 20, a slice of downtown that turned from red to orange in last month’s provincial election. The ward is new, created by splitting the old Trinity-Spadina ward, and there’s no incumbent.

Also in the mix (in alphabetical order) is a litigation lawyer “obsessed” with city policy April Engelberg, City Place community leader Dean Maher, University of Toronto instructor and Royal Canadian Navy officer Kevin Vuong, and former teacher and active volunteer Sabrina Zuniga.

“I just had to run. I’m so passionate about city affairs and I want to make everyone’s day-to-day life easier,” said Engelberg, 30, who’s taken to standing at street corners to hear from residents about what changes they want to see. Making sure a future downtown subway relief line extends into Ward 20 is top of mind, she said.

“Yes this ward is super young, but this ward is also super passionate about the future of Toronto.”

More election coverage: Toronto Election 2018

The average age of residents in Ward 20 is 34, the lowest of any in Toronto, compared to the citywide average of 40, according to StatsCan census data. It’s also diverse, with 44 per cent of residents identifying as a visible minority. Nearly 90 per cent of households live in condos and the average family earns $136,000 a year, above the citywide average of $127,000.

Candidates say residents are most concerned about affordability, transit and safety.

Dong, 41, had yet to register as of Wednesday, but said he wants to bring the projects he worked on as a one-term MPP for Trinity-Spadina to fruition, such as the waterfront LRT, downtown subway relief line, rent control and elevator repair standards. He said as councillor he’ll use his political experience to push the PC government to deliver on funding promises made by the Liberals.

“We worked really hard to get commitments locked down. I don’t want them to go away,” said Dong. When asked what makes him unique from the other candidates, Dong answered, “Experience.”

If elected, Malik, 34, said she’ll represent everyone in Ward 20, including women, people of colour and the “new generation of Torontonians.” She currently works at the Atkinson Foundation, which was founded in 1942 by the Toronto Star’s then-owner and publisher Joseph Atkinson.

With support from progressive downtown Councillors Joe Cressy and Mike Layton, and former mayor Barbara Hall, Malik wants to build “complete” downtown communities with parks, public space and affordable housing.

“Our priorities need to be oriented toward community and people,” Malik said, drawing from her experience as a trustee, where she helped establish the new Jean Lumb Public School. Set to open in September 2019, it’s to be equipped with recreation and child care centres and market space.

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“We can be doing so much more to sharpen that focus and have a council that works really hard to prioritize investments and decision making that includes local voices and actually addresses the needs of the people for an affordable, safe and livable downtown.”

Vuong’s ideas for a livable downtown include completing the cycling grid, improving transit and increasing police presence in the ward. At 29, he’s held a number of leadership roles, such as president of his condo board and chair of his resident’s association.

“More and more people are calling downtown home and raising families here,” said Vuong. “I want to build a community where everyone belongs, while recognizing the unique challenges that come with living vertically.”

Green roofs are one way to bring more nature to Ward 20, said Zuniga, 53, who’d focus on parks, mental health and small businesses.

“I’ve always had a very strong volunteering background and I want to give back to people,” said Zuniga, a board member of the Breast Cancer Society of Canada. “I want to help the community and this is what draws me to run for public office.”

Maher, 46, said he knows how to build a sense of community in the tall towers of Ward 20, having founded the residents’ association at City Place and other local groups. As councillor, he’d push for development charges to be reinvested in the immediate community to add playgrounds in the “neglected” City Place, for example, or plant more trees in parks.

“We’re considered the ‘transient population,’ but we’re staying here now,” Maher said. “My goal is to get people out of condos and to experience the public realm.”