Toronto Star, Oct. 21, 2010

... Here are the candidates we endorse in the region’s major races:

Oakville: Two long-time political rivals are again battling to represent this fast-growing city, with incumbent Rob Burton resisting a determined push by former mayor Ann Mulvale. She received our endorsement in 2003 and beat him by just 28 votes. Burton fought back three years later, and won by 1,636. Although we didn’t back Burton in either of those races, we are supporting him now.

Burton has been an effective and responsible mayor. He has taken firm steps to control Oakville’s growth and has raised development fees. He also boosted city services, especially the fire department, while keeping tax increases moderate. And Burton proposes reasonable borrowing to help cover the city’s $200 million share of a planned new hospital’s cost.

Mulvale, in contrast, seems very much a voice from the past. True to her pro-growth roots, she wants to give developers a break. And, on the new hospital, Mulvale wants to lead a fight to change provincial rules concerning hospital funding. Burton offers a sound, realistic approach to the city’s needs. Oakville is better off with him in office.

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