The massive change that will sweep through London city council in the wake of the municipal election may deepen political division in the city, says one political observer.

The massive change that will sweep through London city council in the wake of the municipal election may deepen political division in the city, says one political observer.

Nearly half of the elected politicians are new to council, or have been away from the council chamber in recent years. But unlike the largely young, politically progressive council elected four years ago, this group is a mixed bag.

Distroscale

That is, some older conservatives mixed with left-leaning youth.

“It suggests they may be fairly divided on a left-right basis,” and that may lead to more political scraps at city hall, said Andre w Sancton, a retired professor of political science at Western University.

“In my mind there is nothing wrong with controversy and division in council. It is part of democratic debate. It’s not a bad thing.”

Six new city councillors were elected, including three in wards where no incumbents ran, and three in wards where council veterans were defeated.

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That change includes council’s longest-serving politician, 24-year veteran Bill Armstrong, beaten by Shawn Lewis in Ward 2.

The mix will see new political conservatives in the persons of Steve Hillier, Paul Van Meerbergen and Steve Lehman, balanced with social progressives Arielle Kayabaga, Lewis and Elizabeth Peloza.

Of all the changes arriving at city council, perhaps Kayabaga and Lewis exemplify it best. Kayabaga is the first woman of colour to be elected to council and at 27 years old, one of the youngest; Lewis is the first openly gay city councillor.

“I think I broke a lot of barriers for a lot of people. I hope they will take the torch and run,” Kayabaga said after winning the Ward 13 race, topping John Fyfe-Millar, who finished second to Tanya Park in 2014.

Before she ran, Kayabaga reached out to women in politics for advice, garnering support from the local political group Women and Politics London. Ironically Virginia Ridley, who lost to returning councillor Paul Van Meerbergen in Ward 10, was her mentor.

“I learned to do things my own way. They taught me to lead from my heart, to do what feels right and don’t side too much on policy,” said Kayabaga.

“To be the first black woman on council is exciting. I feel inspired by a lot of women.”

Lewis maintains being the first openly gay person to run for council had no bearing on the vote.

“There was one small incident with some homophobic graffiti. But it never came up with people at the door. I think that says how far we have come as a community,” Lewis said.

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“The biggest reason was people want to see their neighbourhood issues dealt with.”

Lewis said residents feel those issues — traffic calming, pothole filling, snowplowing — were ignored the past four years.

Elizabeth Peloza, who took Ward 12 after Coun. Harold Usher announced he will retire, agreed, saying local issues drove her campaign.

“Traffic was a huge concern, speeding in our streets,” especially school zones, she said.

“I have three kids, I want London to be a city where they can stay close to home and not need to move,” she added.

Steve Lehman, another council newcomer, beat Matt Reid, a trustee and the chairperson of the Thames Valley District school board, in Paul Hubert’s Ward 8. Lehman, a downtown business owner, was driven by the bus rapid transit debate to enter the fray, but also found he wanted to stress grassroots politics.

“My path started when light rail first came into view, but it expanded quickly into council not listening to the voice of the people,” said Lehman.

He also cites mental health and drug addiction and homelessness as issues that need to be addressed.

“I can’t stress enough city council has to be responsive to Londoners and not have a top-down management style when 15 people think they know best.”

As for what issue in this council’s mandate will trigger division, Sancton believes the bus rapid transit debate will fire things up pretty quickly. The new council may be split 7-7 on BRT, if Coun. Josh Morgan continues to abstain from votes.

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“There has clearly been a swing against BRT, enough to put it in considerable doubt,” said Sancton.

“Given the strength of the anti-BRT mayoral candidate I am surprised the BRT councillors did as well as they did. I think people pay more attention to issues at the mayoral level than at council.”

— With files from Randy Richmond

WHAT THEY SAID

Coun. Jesse Helmer, re-elected in Ward 4:

“It’s sad to see some great colleagues not returning. They did great work,” he said of Virginia Ridley and Jared Zaifman. “We have a great group. We will try work together. I hope we can.”

Steve Hillier, who defeated Jared Zaifman in Ward 14:

“I hope to bring common sense to the city. We need to listen to people,” said Hillier, adding he also wants to bring development to the Sunningdale area and opposes BRT as it will “cost a fortune.”

Virginia Ridley, who lost Ward 10 to Paul Van Meerbergen:

“I don’t know if the ward is conservative or progressive or either. At any different time, different things are a priority for the community. The thing I am most proud of is that I brought politics in the kitchens and living rooms. My favourite times were sitting with people and helping them navigate city hall.”

An anonymous website and Facebook page that surfaced for a few days during the election attacked Ridley personally, saying she committed “child abuse” by taking her young son to a long weekend city council budget meeting in 2016. The sites also attacked her stand on BRT and called her “a colossal spendthrift, greedy, irresponsible.”

Shawn Lewis, who won in Ward 2

“The proposed BRT was a citywide issue that had great impact, but with a local connection. I heard about BRT at every third door, if not more.”

Many were against it outright, but just as many had questions or were confused about it, he said.

A common sentiment in the ward was that bus transit, whatever improved form it takes, has to better serve the industrial areas along Veterans Memorial Parkway and Wilton Grove Road, Lewis said.