There were 67 candidates in this years mayoral race, but it may have been the fourth place finisher who had the greatest impact.
On St Patrick’s Day of this year, Ari Goldkind entered the mayoral race. As a defense attorney with no political experience he was seen to be a fringe candidate at best. Then he began to speak. Quickly, Goldkind got attention with his blunt and honest platform.
“When I think of the campaign we put together the first word that comes to mind is proud,” Goldkind said. “There is nothing that we did in this campaign that I am ashamed of…we never crossed the line.”
Goldkind’s platform was bold. It featured a 15-year transit plan which included raising revenue by adding tolls to the Don Valley Parkway and the Gardiner Expressway. However, for Goldkind, the most important point of his platform was housing.
“It [housing] was the most important issue in the campaign for me,” he said. “I am going to go home to a decent house, I think it is preposterous that thousands of people don’t have a home.”
It is no secret that Goldkind funded a lot of his campaign personally. The criminal attorney is unsure if he will enter back into the political arena.
“It’s funny, people think I have a plan and I don’t, I have no idea what is next. Right now I just want to sleep,” Goldkind said. “One thing is for sure though, whether it is media or politics…I am not going anywhere.”