Victory for Del Duca: an inevitable conclusion
VAUGHAN – Let me start with the obvious for anyone who attended the “campaign kickoff” for the mayoralty race in Vaughan om Thursday, May 14: Mayor Steven Del Duca will still be Mayor the day after the election on October 26. Let me be a little more precise: the number of people (1,200 attendees) at the Venue event centre and the open manifestation of partisan affiliations suggest there cannot and will not be a credible contest to unseat the government at Vaughan City Hall. There may not have been a need.
In electoral politics, at any level, among the many variables impacting a decision, there are two constants, message and organization. Del Duca succeeded in making himself the message, then his team led by Joe De Matteis structured the organization to “sell the message.” The end result manifested itself on Thursday evening in the public message of “a big tent campaign” – there’s room for everyone. Proof?
Special attention and place on the podium were reserved for MPP Minister Stephen Lecce, MP and Deputy Leader of His Majesty’s loyal Opposition Lantsman, MP Anna Roberts – Chair of the Canada-Italy Parliamentary Legislative Association – newly elected MP Michael Gugliemin. They all had two things in common: elected in York Region (of which Vaughan is a part) and they are members of the Conservative party. Members of their constituency associations attended in conspicuous numbers.
Rumours had circulated for several months that MPP Michael Tibollo was preparing for a run at Del Duca. That display of where the federal and provincial organizations were lining up, and personal issues, suggest he had been persuaded to abandon the venture. As to the Councillors (local and regional), tables reserved for attendees from different ethnic demographics for what was a ticketed event would have alerted them to the fact that their own potential teams might already be at a disadvantage.
Hence, they contended themselves to being recognized as being in the room (included under the big tent). There were no elected Liberal partisans, except former elected officials whom the mayor chose to point out as part of his message. Everything, from placards to balloons to the thematic colours (overwhelmingly blue and white) spoke to the narrative: this is an unstoppable electoral machine.
There were pragmatic non-partisan activists among the groups, but everything seemed to be well rehearsed, from the entrance to the development of the program. It all represented an inexorable march forward towards a future people in the room wanted and felt they deserved. – a booming, modern city.
I remember as a university student when everything North of Steeles was either a golf course or a family farm up for sale. Compliments to Mayor Del Duca and his team.
Here below is a photogallery from the event (photos: Corriere Canadese / Del Duca Team)
