The municipal election is just around the corner and the people of Vaughan will once again head back to the polls to decide who will lead the city as mayor. You’ll see some familiar names on the ballot, such as Paul Donofrio and Savino Quatela, both last-minute entries into the mayoral race and both of whom lost by a landslide to current incumbent Maurizio Bevilacqua in 2010. Bevilacqua, of course, is running for re-election, and many believe he’s a lock to win again in 2014.
But there’s a fourth name on the ballot, one that is paradoxically the most and least familiar. And no, it’s not Hollywood legend Danny DeVito. It’s Daniel DeVito, a 28-year-old York University poli-sci graduate, IT consultant and born-and-raised Vaughan native who feels he’s the guy you should tap to take the reins of the city. But who is this plucky candidate and why does he think he’s the man for the job? I took a stroll with DeVito to find out why he’s aiming for the top.
City Life: You’re a relative unknown going into this election. For those who don’t know you, what are you hoping to achieve with this campaign?
Daniel DeVito: I graduated from York University [with a political science degree] in 2008. About two years later, I got involved at the municipal level with Maurizio Bevilacqua, the current incumbent. I worked on his campaign, I helped him represent his platform and I did most of his IT work. Around that time I learned the ins and outs of the municipal campaign process.
I’ve always wanted to run at the municipal level to serve my community, so I decided this time around that I would do that with the standpoint that I’m trying to actively involve the youth in this city to take an interest in some of the issues that have been, I would say, relatively prevalent for the last four years. To be honest, I haven’t seen a lot of change, so I would like to take an active interest in accomplishing some of those things, like getting a hospital built.
I feel that my age, and me taking that position, is a very good example to people who are within my age group who maybe have lost interest as a result of a bureaucracy that overshadows them, giving them very limited perspective or very limited power of voice within the city. So I’m hoping to really change that myth, if you want to call it that, in Vaughan. If that inspires other people in other municipalities within my age group and younger to do so, then all the better for it, I’d say.
City Life: You’re only 28 and it’s not a stretch to suggest that the public may have an issue voting for someone so young for the top seat in the city. How do you overcome that hurdle?
Daniel DeVito: All I can really say is that honesty is my No. 1 policy. It’s hard to trust somebody alone on that, but at the same time, I’ve been a Vaughan citizen all my life. I grew up in Kleinburg, I was raised by the people of Vaughan, so I consider them more like my family than just the people that I live around. I’m here personally representing the people that raised me and that’s the philosophy that I’m going for. I’m taking care of what I consider my extended family, and the city that has given me everything. So in my opinion, I owe this city everything. That, I would say for me, would be what you should put your trust in when deciding to vote for me or against me.
City Life: Before Bevilacqua was elected in 2010, city hall was rife with scandal. But things seem to be in order with him at the helm. Why do you think we need change in the city’s leadership?
Daniel DeVito: I believe that no doubt he’s done a very good job of putting council in order, so to speak. At the same time, I believe, and from what I’ve heard from a number of the voters and the constituents, that it’s a little too quiet. It’s great and all — Vaughan doesn’t have the reputation, council is running smoothly again. So why aren’t we tackling the big issues? Things like the hospital, which we’ve waited for over a decade to get and still we’re hearing one thing after another. Things like congestion in Vaughan. Traffic is horrendous in this city, and I’ve only seen it get worse year by year. I believe that while council, again, maybe has been focused on providing its citizens with a good image of itself … I think it’s now time for it to be accountable for the issues and why these haven’t been solved.
City Life: Many are already saying that Bevilacqua is certain to win this election. How do you feel when you hear those things?
Daniel DeVito: I think that that’s a good thing. He’s done his job in getting a faithful following behind him, and he is an honoured politician. He represented Canada fiscally under Jean Chrétien, and if I weren’t running I would probably be voting for him as well.
At the same time, it isn’t discouraging to me to know that there are people that will stand by their decision. That’s actually a good thing; it means that the democratic process is working. For me, running at that level is not so much about competing, it’s about gaining the experience and getting my name out there. I’m good friends with Maurizio — I represented him, he knows my character, and he knows that what I’m doing is to serve the public. It’s not for any other specific reason. That’s really what I want people to know.
City Life: You were born and raised here, so tell me a bit about some of your favourite things to do in the city.
Daniel DeVito: I’m an outdoorsy type of guy, so in my spare time I really love mountain biking through the McMichael Conservation [Collection of Art]. I’ve been doing that for as long as I can remember. I swim at least once a week at the Al Palladini Community Centre. I learned to swim there when I was five years old and I still go there and do laps in the pool. As far as establishments go, I’m kind of a movie buff. So I do like to go to the movies occasionally.
City Life: What’s your favourite film, then?
Daniel DeVito: I would probably have to say The Shawshank Redemption.
City Life: Oh, great movie. Love that scene at the end where Andy escapes and reaches his arms up to the sky in the rain.
Daniel DeVito: Exactly. He’s liberated at the end. Kind of the way I look to liberate Vaughan by opening up everybody’s mind to new possibilities.
City Life: Nice spin.
Municipal Voting Day is October 27, 2014.
