adminTORONTO. – Olivia Chow was elected Toronto’s 66th mayor in Monday night’s closer-than-anticipated by-election.
Molly The Dog, the only four-legged candidate on the ballot, managed to crack the top 20 in the vote.
The canine, which was running with her owner Toby Heaps, received just under 600 votes.
The dog, and her owner ran on the promise to “Stop the Salt Assault” on city roads during the winter.
Heaps claimed if he had won he would designate Molly as the city’s first dog mayor.
That job now falls to Chow.
He edged out former city councillor Ana Bailão — the only two candidates to garner more than 100 000 votes.
Several other names saw at least 10 000 ballots cast with their names selected.
In total, there were 102 names for Torontonians to choose from.
Here’s how some of the notable fringe candidates fared.
Gong Xiao Hua
“Gong for Mayor” signs were a common sight across the city in the weeks leading up to the byelection, but despite winning the sign game, Gong Xiao Hua couldn’t crack the top 10.
Gong had a massive advertising campaign that included radio and television spots and a massive billboard at Yonge-Dundas Square.
In the end, he received just under 3,000 votes, good for 11th place.
He has been mired in controversy in recent years despite some success in various business ventures including manufacturing health supplements, creating media channels, commercial property and running beauty pageants.
He’s been accused of being involved in a pyramid scheme and while charges against him were ultimately dropped, his company was convicted and fined in Ontario.
His team will be busy now, as all election signs must be removed by today.
Chris Sky
Chris Saccocia, more commonly known as Chris Sky, made his name as vocal opponent to public health measures during the COVID-19 pandemic.
He finished 9th with approximately 8,000 votes. Saccoccia commented on the results as they trickled in, questioning the validity of the election, claiming he “exposed the largest act of fraud in Canadian history.”
Saccoccia was arrested earlier this month after being accused of uttering death threats.
He posted a video to social media that week claiming he was turning himself in to Toronto Police 53 Division.
Giorgio Mammolitti
Former outspoken city councillor Giorgio Mammolitti finished 13th with just over 1,000 votes. – torontocitynews
Mathew Masinge
Online Reporter