Doug Holyday’s victory in a hotly-contested provincial byelection in Etobicoke-Lakeshore has created an empty seat at city hall and a heated debate on how to fill it.

The deputy mayor and long-time councillor for Etobicoke Centre defeated fellow councillor and Liberal candidate Peter Milczyn by about 1,500 votes in Thursday night’s byelection.

Under the terms of the City of Toronto Act, council must now declare Holyday’s seat vacant during its next meeting on Oct. 8.

At that point, council will be required to appoint a temporary caretaker to the position within 60 days or declare a byelection in the ward.

If council elects to hold a byelection it could very well overlap with the beginning of the 2014 municipal election, which candidates are able to begin campaigning for on Jan. 2.

“Clearly the timing calls for an appointment and definitely not a byelection,” Ward 21 Coun. Joe Mihevc told CP24 Friday morning. “The byelection could not take place until the new year when we would already be starting the process for the general election in October (27th) 2014, so one would be running into the other and there would be a $200,000 cost that really is avoidable. The best thing at this point is to have a selection process where everyone can apply.”

Mayor Rob Ford has previously said that he favours a byelection to fill Holyday’s seat on council, but a quick poll of councillors at city hall Friday morning suggested he might have trouble gaining support for the idea, given the cost and timing of a potential vote.

“The most responsible thing to do at this juncture would be an appointment,” Ward 30 Coun. Paula Fletcher told CP24. “By the time we get around to it we will already be in an election year and it would be very confusing and very expensive. I think the public would say ‘Why are you spending $200,000 when the person will just be there eight months?’”

“It is less than a year and whoever fills the seat will be back on the campaign trail within a month of being selected,” added Ward 20 Coun. Adam Vaughan. “All things considered I think appointment is the direction we are going.”

If council chooses to appoint Holyday’s successor rather than hold a byelection it won’t be the first time such a decision has been made.

In 2006, council opted to appoint former city councillor Martin Silva to serve out the remainder of Olivia Chow’s term after the NDP MP was elected to the House of Commons.

At the time, council sought assurances from Silva that he would not seek re-election in the ward, something that Mihevc said he’d look for from any person tabbed to take over Holyday’s seat.

“I would cast my vote for someone who maybe has some political experience but who has no plan to run in the election,” Mihevc said. “If it is the first three years of council you have an election but if it is the last year of council you are looking for someone to represent the good citizens of Etobicoke in a caretaker role rather than a driver role.”

New deputy mayor excited about opportunity

Ford has already announced that Coun. Norm Kelly will succeed Holyday as his deputy mayor.

Speaking with reporters Friday afternoon, Kelly said he is looking forward to the added responsibility.

“I can’t think of any better place to be in politics today than in Canada’s largest city at a time when the competition around the world is being conducted primarily by cities,” he said. “To be a part of that debate and to be able to contribute ideas and votes I think is wonderful.”

Kelly said he will continue to fight for the same things as deputy mayor as he has as a councillor, including the expansion of the runway at the Toronto Island airport to allow for larger jets to land and takeoff.

Asked if he would be offering advice to Mayor Rob Ford amid an ongoing scandal over an alleged video of the mayor smoking from a glass pipe, Kelly declined comment.

“My concern right now is the government of the City of Toronto,” he said. “That’s my focus and that will be my contribution.”

Ford has not yet announced who he will tap to take over Holyday's position on his 13-member executive committee.

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