By Santiago Arias, Tyreike Reid, Antonio Peláez Barceló, Hawi Tulu and Julia Vellucci
John Tory was re-elected Monday night as mayor of Toronto for a third term.
Despite the extended voting hours and delays some residents faced, Tory was announced as the winner in a landslide. Tory received 61.99 per cent of the vote with 1,426 of 1,535 polls reporting.
In all, 31 candidates ran, including Tory and Gil Penalosa, for the seat.
Tory, 68, has been in office since 2014, has been married to Barbara Hackett since 1978, and has experience as a lawyer, political strategist and businessman.
Tory wanted young people in Toronto to have a chance to live in the neighbourhoods he grew up in, according to a Global News report.
“We are going to get more housing built. We are going to do everything we can to keep the city affordable for all those who live here.” Tory said.
Penalosa, 65, is the founder of the successful Canadian non-profit organization 8 80 Cities which on its website explains that it is a “non-profit advocating for accessible, inclusive cities.”
“Sometimes I’m called a dreamer but if I don’t dream the impossible, nothing can be possible,” Penalosa said in his concession speech.
Across Toronto, 12 polling stations were affected by technical errors that forced them to extend voting hours. Ward 13 extended until 8:05 p.m. Wards 5, 8, 13, 16, and 19 are extended to 8:10 p.m.
A polling station for Wards 19 and 22, located at 85 Beverly Glen Blvd., extended their time to 8:15 p.m. Wards 2 and 10 are extended to 8:20 p.m.
In Ward 22, the polling station at 2501 Bridletown Cir., extended its voting time to 8:25 p.m.