Spirits were high at Jennie Worden’s election night party, even though she was not elected for council in Ward 19 Beaches-East York.
Despite incumbent Brad Bradford being re-elected with nearly 55 per cent of the vote compared to her 23 per cent, Worden said she appreciated the experience.
She was “so so grateful to my team and to all the people who came out and voted and to my volunteers,” the candidate told family, friends and volunteers at Hirut Cafe on Danforth Avenue on Oct. 24.
“This campaign started from very little and we have done so much better than I have ever dared to dream,” Worden said.
Samantha Little, a volunteer for Worden’s campaign, was equally upbeat for the future.
“I’m excited because it means there’s so much more work to be done and so much excitement and possibility that’s going to happen,” Little said.
She also had some thoughts on the issues Bradford will be facing.
“Different wards have different needs,” she said. “But I think generally speaking in the city of Toronto we certainly have a housing crisis, we have a public transit crisis, we have a whole series of issues that are universal to the city with new Canadians and I think everybody should be looking at those things.”
Despite losing the election, Worden said she still plans to help the people of Ward 19.
“I’m aware of just how much work we all have ahead of us for the next little while as we take what we’ve learned about our neighbours from this election and start working on some of those projects — even outside of city hall to make sure we are taking care of people, that we are advancing the causes of environmental justice and tenant’s rights and housing for all as a human right in the city of Toronto,” Worden said.