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The story of how Karen Stintz was first encouraged to run for office is something of a legend in Toronto politics.

Since first being elected in 2003, the Ward 16 (Eglinton-Lawrence) councillor has become a central figure in the saga of Toronto city hall: She is perennially mentioned as a credible and possible future contender for the mayor’s job, she frequently finds herself in the news as a rival to Mayor Rob Ford, and she serves as chair of an evolving TTC.

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Rewind 10 years and she is a young government functionary with little experience in politics and no organization. She does have an opportunity, however, in the fact that some of the locals are grumbling about long-serving Ward 16 councillor Anne Johnston. In 2002, Ms. Johnston had helped broker a deal that led to council’s approval of the twin highrise Minto condominium towers at Yonge and Eglinton.

In 2003, community activists affiliated with various ratepayer’s groups under the umbrella of the Federation of North Toronto Residents’ Associations formed an ad hoc committee called the Coalition for Municipal Change, united in the desire to prevent runaway growth and construction in North Toronto. “It was the Minto deal that got me upset,” says Patrick Smyth. It was also united in the desire to get rid of Ms. Johnston.