View source for Maria Augimeri

{{short description|Canadian politician}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=March 2019}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| name         = Maria Augimeri
| image        = Councillor Maria Augimeri portrait (S2311 fl2644 it0001).jpg
| imagesize    = 
| caption      = Augimeri in 2008
| office1       = [[Toronto City Councillor]] for [[Ward 6 York Centre|(Ward 9) York Centre]]
| term_start1   = December 1, 2000
| term_end1     = December 1, 2018
| predecessor1  = Ward Created
| successor1    = [[James Pasternak]]
| office2      = Chair of the [[Toronto Transit Commission]]
| term_start2  = February 19, 2014
| term_end2    = November 30, 2014
| predecessor2 = [[Karen Stintz]]
| successor2   = [[Josh Colle]]
| office3      = [[Toronto City Councillor]] for [[Black Creek, Toronto|(Ward 7) Black Creek]]
| term_start3  = January 1, 1998
| term_end3    = December 1, 2000
| predecessor3 = Ward Created
| successor3   = Ward Abolished
| office4      = [[Toronto City Councillor|Metro Toronto City Councillor]] for [[Black Creek, Toronto|Black Creek]]
| term_start4  = December 1, 1988
| term_end4    = January 1, 1998
| predecessor4 = Ward Created
| successor4   = City Amalgamated
| office5      = [[North York|North York City Councillor]] for Ward 5
| term_start5  = December 1, 1985
| term_end5    = December 1, 1988
| predecessor5 =
| successor5   = [[Anthony Perruzza]]
| party        = [[New Democratic Party (Canada)|New Democratic Party]]
| birth_date   = {{birth year and age|1954}}
| birth_place  = [[Italy]]
| spouse       = [[Odoardo Di Santo]]
| children     =
| residence    = [[Toronto]], [[Ontario]]
| occupation   = [[Social Anthropology|Social Anthropologist]]
| signature    =
| website      = {{URL|mariaaugimeri.com}}
}}

'''Maria Augimeri''' ({{IPAc-en|ˌ|ɔː|dʒ|ɪ|ˈ|m|ɛər|i|audio=Mariaaugimeri-mg.ogg}} {{respell|AW|jim|AIR|ee}}, {{IPA|it|maˈriːa audʒiˈmɛːri|lang}}; born {{c.|1954}}<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.gettyimages.ca/detail/news-photo/maria-augimeri-ndp-age-33-north-york-alderman-wants-news-photo/502260659|title=Maria Augimeri, NDP; Age: 33, North York alderman|date=April 9, 1987}}</ref>) is a Canadian politician. From 1985 to 2018, she served as a local politician in Toronto, holding office as a [[Toronto District School Board|school board trustee]], and as a council member in [[North York]], [[Metropolitan Toronto]], and on [[Toronto City Council]]. In [[2019 Canadian federal election|2019]], Augimeri stood as the [[New Democratic Party|New Democratic]] candidate for the riding of [[Humber River-Black Creek]].

==Background==
Born in [[Italy]], Augimeri moved to Canada with her family at the age of 2.  Before entering politics, she was a [[Social Anthropology|Social Anthropologist]] at [[York University]]. She has written three books on the [[Italian-Canadian]] community and is also a published poet.

==Politics==
She first entered politics as a [[school trustee]], and was elected to the city council of [[North York]] in 1985. She ran for the [[Ontario New Democratic Party]] in the [[1987 Ontario general election|1987 provincial election]] in the [[Riding (division)|riding]] of [[Downsview (electoral district)|Downsview]] which her husband, [[Odoardo Di Santo]], held for ten years before losing in the [[1985 Ontario general election|1985 election]].  She lost to [[Ontario Liberal Party|Liberal]] [[Laureano Leone]] by 174 votes.

Augimeri was elected to the [[Metro Toronto]] council in 1988, and remained on that council until the creation of the new city of Toronto in 1997.  She was elected councillor to the new city council three times.  She was known for promoting environmental awareness and cultural issues.

She was endorsed for re-election by the ''[[Toronto Star]]'' newspaper in 2003.<ref>{{cite news | title = Star's selections for city council | department = EDITORIAL Section | pages = A26 | work = Toronto Star | date = November 7, 2003
  | url = https://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/thestar/access/648567571.html?dids=648567571:648567571&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&date=Nov+7%2C+2003&author=&pub=Toronto+Star&edition=&startpage=A.26&desc=Star%27s+selections+for+city+council
  | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070930235755/http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/thestar/access/648567571.html?dids=648567571:648567571&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&date=Nov+7,+2003&author=&pub=Toronto+Star&edition=&startpage=A.26&desc=Star%27s+selections+for+city+council
  | url-status = dead
  | archive-date = September 30, 2007
  | accessdate = February 22, 2007}}
</ref>

The local weekly newspaper ''[[Now (newspaper)|Now Magazine]]'' also gave her an endorsement in 2000.<ref>{{cite news
 |last        = Anderson
 |first       = Scott
 |author2     = Enzo Di Matteo
 |title       = Now's Election PICKS a ward by ward voters' GUIDE
 |work        = Newsfront
 |publisher   = Now Magazine
 |date        = November 9, 2000
 |url         = http://www.nowtoronto.com/issues/2000-11-09/newsfront.html
 |accessdate  = February 22, 2007
 |url-status     = dead
 |archiveurl  = https://web.archive.org/web/20070929121059/http://www.nowtoronto.com/issues/2000-11-09/newsfront.html
 |archivedate = September 29, 2007
}}</ref>

On August 10, 2008, a [[2008 Toronto explosions|massive propane explosion]] in Augimeri's ward destroyed a propane distribution facility which caused the evacuation of thousands of residents. Augimeri cut short a summer vacation in Italy and returned to Toronto to assist with the situation. During a press conference, she became involved in a heated discussion with Tony Di Santo, head of the local ratepayer's group. She said, "If people have problems of a partisan nature they should not be using the death of a firefighter... So shut up!" Later she apologized for losing her temper.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Alcoba |first1=Natalie |last2=Goldberg |first2=Brianna |date=August 15, 2008 |title=Frustrations Spill Over at Meeting |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/national-post-frustrations-spill-over-at/138160531/ |work=[[National Post]] |location=Toronto, Ontario |page=A8 |access-date=January 6, 2024 |via=newspapers.com}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Bielski |first=Zosia |date=August 14, 2008 |title=Residents, councillor spar near blast site |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/national-post-residents-councillor-spar/138160132/}} and {{cite news|title=$300-million lawsuit filed against city |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/national-post-300-million-lawsuit-filed/138160280/ |work=[[National Post]] |location=Toronto, Ontario |pages=A1-A8 |access-date=January 6, 2024 |via=newspapers.com}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Hanes |first=Allison |date=August 15, 2008 |title=Councillor apologizes for outburst |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/national-post-councillor-apologizes-for/138160722/ |work=[[National Post]] |location=Toronto, Ontario |page=A9 |access-date=January 6, 2024 |via=newspapers.com}}</ref>

===2010 municipal election===
The 2010 Toronto municipal election was held on October 25. Augimeri won by an 89-vote margin (0.7%) over local businessman Gus Cusimano. Augimeri thanked her supporters the following day on October 26, 2010, when she said, "I know a lot of the community voted for me because they know I'm the one to protect community interests."<ref>{{cite news | last = Queen | first = Lisa |author2=Sunshine Fannie | title = Ward 9: Augimeri scores 89-vote victory | work = Inside Toronto | publisher = Toronto Community News | date = October 26, 2010 | url = http://www.insidetoronto.com/news/local/article/892961--ward-9-augimeri-scores-89-vote-victory | accessdate = December 7, 2010}}</ref>

Cusimano later announced that he would challenge the results. The matter was heard in court on March 29, 2011.<ref>{{ cite news | last = Nickle | first = David | title = Ward 9 to be challenged in court | work = Inside Toronto | publisher = Toronto Community News | date = February 4, 2011 | url = http://www.insidetoronto.com/news/cityhall/article/938899--ward-9-to-be-challenged-in-court | accessdate = February 16, 2011 }}</ref> The judge ruled that there were enough irregularities in the 2010 voting that the election should be held again. Initially the city's legal staff said they would be appealing the decision but on May 13 it was announced that the city would not launch an appeal. City Clerk Uli Watkiss said in a statement, "The decision to proceed with a by-election and resolve this matter as quickly as possible is in the best interest of the public, the individuals directly affected, and the workings of Council."<ref>{{cite news | title = Augimeri to face new vote | work = CBC Toronto | publisher = Canadian Broadcasting Corporation | date = May 13, 2011 | url = https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/augimeri-to-face-new-vote-1.1085343 | access-date = August 14, 2011}}</ref> The mayor's office supported the decision. [[Rob Ford]]'s press secretary Adrienne Batra said, "Obviously the mayor supported (Cusimano) during the general election and once the byelection gets under way he will be fully supporting him again."<ref>{{cite news | first = Don | last = Peat |title = Byelection a go in Augimeri's Ward 9 | newspaper = Toronto Sun | date = May 13, 2011 | url = http://www.torontosun.com/2011/05/13/byelection-a-go-in-augimeris-ward-9 | accessdate = August 14, 2011}}</ref>

On May 16, Augimeri announced that she would be appealing the decision herself. Augimeri told media, "The clerk’s advice not to appeal does harm to taxpayers as well as to the integrity of our electoral system."<ref>{{cite news |last = Alcoba |first = Natalie | title = Councillor Augimeri to appeal byelection decision | work = National Post | date = May 16, 2011 | url = http://news.nationalpost.com/2011/05/16/councillor-augimeri-to-appeal-by-election-decision/ | accessdate = August 14, 2011}}</ref> On August 4, the city reversed its decision and decided to join the appeal which was held in September 2011.<ref>{{cite news |last = Rider |first = David | title = Mississauga asks to join Augimeri-Cusimano appeal | work = Toronto Star | publisher = TorStar | date = August 4, 2011 | url = https://www.thestar.com/news/article/1034651 | accessdate = August 14, 2011}}</ref> On December 19, the court ruled in Augimeri's favour. A three judge panel ruled that although 300 ballots were unsigned by electoral officers the people voting were very likely eligible to vote and that this would have no effect on the election. In a related judgement, they also ruled that Cusimano incorrectly voted in the Ward 9 election because he lived in another riding. They decided that no further action was necessary.<ref>{{cite news |last = Dale |first = Daniel | title = Ward 9 byelection rejected, Augimeri to stay | work = Toronto Star | publisher = TorStar | date = December 19, 2011 | url = https://www.thestar.com/news/cityhallpolitics/article/1104537 | accessdate = December 19, 2011}}</ref>

Augimeri was appointed Chair of the [[Toronto Transit Commission]] in February 2014 upon the resignation of [[Karen Stintz]] to run for Mayor of Toronto in the [[2014 Toronto municipal election|2014 Toronto election]] winning appointment over [[Josh Colle]], Stintz's preferred successor.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.beachmetro.com/2011/09/20/history-beach-metro-news-beach-booming-1982/|title = History of Beach Metro News: The Beach was booming in 1982|date = September 20, 2011}}</ref>

===2014 municipal election===

In the [[2014 Toronto municipal election|2014 election]], Augimeri again faced Cusimano, though defeated him by a larger margin (42.74% to 28.37%).

===2018 Municipal Election===

Following the election of Augimeri's former council colleague [[Doug Ford]] as [[Premier of Ontario]], Ford's [[Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario|Progressive Conservative]] government passed legislation that reduced the number of seats on Toronto City Council from 47 to 25 immediately before the [[2018 Toronto municipal election|city's scheduled election]]. The legislation, referred to as the [[Better Local Government Act]], merged wards being contested by Augimeri and another council colleague, [[James Pasternak]]. Augimeri lost to Pasternak by over 2000 votes, blaming the reduction in council seats for her loss and noting that she would have won in her old ward.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.thestar.com/news/toronto-election/2018/10/22/close-race-for-fellow-incumbents-augimeri-pasternak-in-ward-6-york-centre.html|title=James Pasternak beats fellow incumbent Maria Augimeri in Ward 6, York Centre {{!}} The Star|work=Toronto Star|access-date=November 12, 2018}}</ref>

Augimeri served as the chairperson of the [[Toronto and Region Conservation Authority]] (TRCA) Board of Directors until February 2019. In July 2019, Augimeri was replaced on the TRCA by a citizen appointee.

===2019 Federal Election===

In the October 21, 2019 [[2019 Canadian federal election|Federal Election]], Maria Augimeri was unable to unseat the long time Liberal incumbent in the [[Humber River-Black Creek]] riding, [[Judy Sgro]]. Ms. Sgro won with 22,983 votes, Ms. Augimeri with the NDP was a distant second  at 7,126.

==Election results==

===Federal===
{{2019 Canadian federal election/Humber River—Black Creek}}

===Provincial===
{{1987 Ontario general election/Downsview}}

===Municipal===

{{election table|title=Results of the October 22, 2018 [[Toronto City Council|Toronto - Ward 6 - York Centre Councillor]] Election}}
|-
!rowspan="2" colspan="2"|Candidate
!colspan="3"|Popular vote
!rowspan="2" colspan="2"|Expenditures
|-
! Votes
! %
! ±%
|-
| style="background-color:#1406a8;" |
| style="text-align:left;" | [[James Pasternak]] <small>(Incumbent)</small>
| style="text-align:right;" |11,559
| style="text-align:right;" |47.61%
| style="text-align:right;" |-57.78%
| style="text-align:right;" |$67,212.21
|-
| style="background-color:#FF7F00;" |
| style="text-align:left;" | Maria Augimeri <small>(Incumbent)</small>
| style="text-align:right;" |9,223
| style="text-align:right;" |37.99%
| style="text-align:right;" |-4.75%
| style="text-align:right;" |$66,209.39
|-
| style="background-color:#FF0000;" |
| style="text-align:left;" | Louise Russo
| style="text-align:right;" |2,726
| style="text-align:right;" |11.23%
| style="text-align:right;" | -
| style="text-align:right;" |$23,323.98
|-
| style="background-color:#b70776;" |
| style="text-align:left;" | Edward Zaretsky
| style="text-align:right;" |771
| style="text-align:right;" |3.17
| style="text-align:right;" | -
| style="text-align:right;" | -<sup>1</sup>
|-
| style="text-align:right;background-color:#FFFFFF;" colspan="2" |'''Total votes'''
| style="text-align:right;background-color:#FFFFFF;" |24,279
| style="text-align:right;background-color:#FFFFFF;" |
| style="text-align:right;background-color:#FFFFFF;" |
| style="text-align:right;" |
|-
| style="text-align:right;background-color:#FFFFFF;" colspan="2" |'''Registered voters'''
| style="text-align:right;background-color:#FFFFFF;" |
| style="text-align:right;background-color:#FFFFFF;" |
| style="text-align:right;background-color:#FFFFFF;" |
| style="text-align:right;" |
|-
| style="text-align:left;" colspan="6" |<small><sup>1</sup> These candidates did not submit official Financial Statements and are, therefore, ineligible to run in the <br /> 2022 Municipal election <br />Note: All Toronto Municipal Elections are officially non-partisan. <br /> Note: Candidate campaign colours are based on the prominent colour used in campaign items (signs, literature, etc.)<br />and are used as a visual differentiation between candidates.</small>
|-
| style="text-align:left;" colspan="13" |'''Sources:''' [https://www.toronto.ca/city-government/elections/general-information/election-results/ City of Toronto, "Election Results"]
|}

{| class="wikitable"
|-
|Colspan="3" align="center"|'''[[2014 Toronto municipal election|2014 Toronto election]], Ward 9'''
|-
! width="150px" | Candidate
! | Votes
! | %
|-
| '''Maria Augimeri'''|| 6,373 ||42.74%
|-
| Gus Cusimano|| 4,230 ||28.37%
|-
| Anthony Fernando|| 3,367 ||22.58%
|-
| Danny Quattrociocchi|| 562 ||3.77%
|-
| Ances Hercules|| 248 ||1.66%
|-
| Wilson Basantes|| 130 ||0.87%
|-
! Total|| 14,910 ||100%
|}
{| class="wikitable"
|-
|Colspan="3" align="center"|'''[[2010 Toronto municipal election|2010 Toronto election]], Ward 9'''<ref>[http://election.toronto.ca/epr/textlist.html City of Toronto elections page] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101026084116/http://election.toronto.ca/epr/textlist.html |date=October 26, 2010 }}</ref>
|-
! bgcolor="#DDDDFF" width="150px" | Candidate
! bgcolor="#DDDDFF"  | Votes
! bgcolor="#DDDDFF"  | %
|-
|'''Maria Augimeri''' ||align=right| 5,452 ||align=right| 44.3
|-
|Gus Cusimano ||align=right| 5,363 ||align=right| 43.6
|-
|Gianfranco Amendola ||align=right| 1,082 ||align=right| 8.8
|-
|Wilson Basantes ||align=right| 259 ||align=right| 2.1
|-
|Stefano Picone ||align=right| 142 ||align=right| 1.2
|-
!Total||align=right| 12,298 ||align=right| 100
|}

{| class="wikitable"
|-
|Colspan="3" align="center"|'''[[2006 Toronto municipal election|2006 Toronto election]], Ward 9'''<ref>[http://www.toronto.ca/vote2006/results/officialdeclaration.pdf City Clerk's Official Declaration 2006] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110607042449/http://www.toronto.ca/vote2006/results/officialdeclaration.pdf |date=June 7, 2011 }}</ref>
|-
! bgcolor="#DDDDFF" width="150px" | Candidate
! bgcolor="#DDDDFF"  | Votes
! bgcolor="#DDDDFF"  | %
|-
|'''Maria Augimeri''' ||align=right| 7,256||align=right|77.6
|-
|Vlad Protsenko ||align=right| 2,100||align=right|22.4
|-
!Total||align=right| 9,356 ||align=right| 100
|}

{| class="wikitable"
|-
|Colspan="3" align="center"|'''[[2003 Toronto municipal election|2003 Toronto election]], Ward 9'''<ref>[http://www.toronto.ca/vote2003/results/officialdeclaration.pdf City Clerk's Official Declaration 2003] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110429031853/http://www.toronto.ca/vote2003/results/officialdeclaration.pdf |date=April 29, 2011 }}</ref>
|-
! bgcolor="#DDDDFF" width="150px" | Candidate
! bgcolor="#DDDDFF"  | Votes
! bgcolor="#DDDDFF"  | %
|-
|'''Maria Augimeri''' ||7,898 ||74.1
|-
|Anna Oppedisano ||1,061 ||9.9
|-
|Richard Baldachino ||779 ||7.3
|-
|Annmarie Robb ||487 ||4.5
|-
|Domenic D'Abruzzo ||422 ||4.2
|-
!Total||align=right| 10,647 ||align=right| 100
|}

{| class="wikitable"
|-
|Colspan="3" align="center"|'''[[2000 Toronto municipal election|2000 Toronto election]], Ward 9'''<ref>[http://www.toronto.ca/vote2000/live_final/009.htm Toronto Election Results Ward 9] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121014165101/http://www.toronto.ca/vote2000/live_final/009.htm |date=October 14, 2012 }}</ref>
|-
! bgcolor="#DDDDFF" width="150px" | Candidate
! bgcolor="#DDDDFF"  | Votes
! bgcolor="#DDDDFF"  | %
|-
|'''Maria Augimeri''' ||8,698 ||72.3
|-
|Anna Oppedisano ||2,816 ||23.4
|-
|Richard Baldachino ||504 ||4.3
|-
!Total||align=right| 12,018 ||align=right| 100
|}
{{1997 Toronto municipal election/Councillor, Ward Seven (two members elected)}}

==Works==
* Italian-Canadians, a cross section. 1978. National Congress of Italian-Canadians. Ottawa.
* Calabrese folklore. 1985. National Museums of Canada. Ottawa.

==Notes==
{{Reflist|group="note"}}

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
* {{TorontoCouncillor|ID=augimeri1}}
* {{official website|http://www.mariaaugimeri.com}}

{{Toronto City Councillors}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Augimeri, Maria}}
[[Category:Italian emigrants to Canada]]
[[Category:Toronto city councillors]]
[[Category:Metropolitan Toronto councillors]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Women municipal councillors in Ontario]]
[[Category:Place of birth missing (living people)]]
[[Category:Chairs of the Toronto Transit Commission]]
[[Category:20th-century Canadian municipal councillors]]
[[Category:20th-century Canadian women politicians]]
[[Category:21st-century Canadian municipal councillors]]
[[Category:21st-century Canadian women politicians]]
[[Category:1954 births]]