Cathy Dandy (centre) along with daughter Tabatha and son Daniel still managed smiles on election night.
The atmosphere was hushed at Sarah’s Café and Bar on the Danforth Monday night as Cathy Dandy’s supporters watched the election results roll in.
Those results, which coalesced shortly after 9 p.m., spelled the end of Dandy’s eight-year run as public school trustee for Toronto-Danforth.
Dandy was defeated by newcomer Jennifer Story, who had been endorsed by NDP MPP Peter Tabuns and by neighbouring city councillor Paula Fletcher. Story finished with 50 per cent of the total votes, or 18,019, to Dandy’s 9,893.
Dandy said she will not run again for trustee.
Her campaign manager, Mandy Pipher, believes the results are not ideal for the students of Toronto.
“It’s not about her record, it’s not about her as a human being,” Pipher said. “We know that she didn’t lose for those reasons.”
During her time as trustee, Dandy has helped create the late-start high school program to accommodate teenage “biorhythms,” as well as three new French immersion sites. She’s also fought school closings and arranged Red Cross babysitting courses for young people in Toronto-Danforth.
“I thought we were all on the same side of moving progressive agendas together, and really it’s all about moving a party forward,” Dandy said of the results, referring to reports that challenger Story had the backing of the local NDP establishment. “I’m not interested in that. I’m interested in how we can move children and youth issues forward.”