Mario Racco makes move for Vaughan mayor role

Political heavyweight Mario G. Racco is once again seeking public office with his recently announced bid to become Vaughan’s next mayor. With 18 years as a local councillor and one term as a Liberal MPP under his belt, Racco is the first big name to declare his candidacy. “I feel very strongly that the city’s not in the right direction,” he said.

He launched his campaign last month at an event that highlighted one of his key priorities: transportation. Highway 7, west of Jane Street, is one of the worst areas in the city in terms of traffic, and gridlock is a problem that needs to be dealt with, he said. Two other areas Racco would like to tackle are planning and openness. He said he feels that residents need to be better informed and consulted before the city moves forward with applications. Racco’s wife, Sandra Yeung Racco, is currently serving as the Ward 4 councillor in Vaughan.

“I don’t think her position should affect me in any way or form,” he said. Racco is joined by declared candidates Paul Donofrio and David Natale in the race to become Vaughan’s next mayor. Donofrio, a former fleet coordinator for the city who made a run for Ward 2 councillor in 2006, said he feels it’s time for a change. “We need to get the city running on all eight cylinders again,” he said.

Part of this would be restoring Vaughan’s bruised image and boosting the morale of city staff, he said. Another of Donofrio’s aims would be to identify areas where the city can reduce costs as a response to what he sees as waste that is currently happening.

Natale, who currently manages a Vaughan-based business, said he would like to usher in change and provide stewardship that he feels is wanting at the moment. He said he would try to unify council and draw on city staff to work toward his goals, which include sustained economic growth and bringing a first-rate hospital to Vaughan.

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