NEWS RELEASE
“Leading Vaughan Responsibly”
Mario G. Racco, long-time City Councillor and former MPP, officially launches campaign for Vaughan Mayor
VAUGHAN, ONT (February 3, 2010) – Building on his experience as a Vaughan City Councillor and Member of Provincial Parliament for Thornhill, Mario G. Racco today officially launched his candidacy for Mayor of the City of Vaughan.
“I love Vaughan – its people, its spirit, and everything is has to offer,” Racco said. “I will share my vision for this city with the people of Vaughan over the next eight months. I am convinced that once they hear what I have to say, and they know that I am listening to them, they will choose me as their Mayor.”
Racco expressed a determination to keep the campaign positive, focusing on issues.
“People look to their governments for solutions to issues that matter to them. In Vaughan, that means traffic congestion, wise development and a city hall they can trust.”
His campaign theme is “Leading Vaughan Responsibly.”
“We need strong leadership in Vaughan – something that has been missing for too long,” he said.
“More importantly, we need responsible leadership. We need a Mayor who can bring together Council to make wise decisions on behalf of and for the people. I have the experience, I have the skills, and I have the understanding to make that happen.”
Mario G. Racco served as a Vaughan Councillor for 18 years and as MPP for Thornhill for four years. He is married to Sandra Yeung Racco, who is serving her second term as Vaughan Councillor.
Over the course of the election campaign, Racco will outline his plan for addressing local issues, including making City Hall more open and accountable, improving transportation and easing traffic
congestion, and improving planning and development decisions.
“My vision is this: After four years of a Council led by Mario G. Racco, Vaughan will be a wellmanaged, vibrant, admired city,” he said. “Right now, Vaughan is coming up short in all three areas.
I want to change that. As Mayor, I will change that.”
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Contact:
Li
Zhang
(416)
580-1881
li@racco4mayor.ca
Mario G. Racco
“Leading Vaughan Responsibly”
Biography
Mario G. Racco was born in May 13, 1955, in Italy and immigrated to Canada on February 25, 1972.
While working to earn a living and put himself through school in his new home, Mario earned a Diploma in Business Administration (Accounting & Finance) from Ryerson Polytechnical Institute (now Ryerson
University) in 1977. He furthered his studies and in 1981 earned a degree in Business Administration from York University. Shortly after graduating, he began his work at Thorne Riddell Chartered Accountants and later moved to Dunwoody Chartered Accountants.
Mario’s distinguished career in politics began with his entry at the municipal level when he was elected to the Town of Vaughan Council in 1982. His commitment and hard work was rewarded by the people of Ward 4, who elected him six times - in 1982, 1988, 1991, 1994, 1997 and 2000.
In 2003 Mario moved to the provincial stage where he was elected Member of Provincial Parliament for Thornhill.
As MPP, Mario took on numerous significant parliamentary roles during his term in office, including: Member of the Cabinet Committee on Health and Social Services; Chair of the Standing Committee on Social Policy; Vice-Chair of the Standing Committee on the Legislative Assembly; and Member of the Standing Committee on Justice Policy.
In acknowledgement of his efforts in the Legislature, Mario’s profile was expanded with his appointment as the Parliamentary Assistant to the Minister of Labour in March 2006.
Since moving to the Thornhill area in 1980, Mario has been very active in the community. He helped organize the local Terry Fox Run for Cancer Research, Canada Day festivities, Ratepayers' Associations,
softball organizations and many other community-building activities. The people of Thornhill paid tribute to Mario’s dedication by naming of Racco Parkway in his honour.
His accomplishments in Canada are a source of pride in Italy. The people of his hometown recognized Mario by renaming the street where he was born and raised to “Viale Vaughan,” his adopted home.
Mario is married to Sandra Yeung Racco, a councilor for the City of Vaughan, and together they have two children, Alexander and Katrina.
For further information, visit: www.Racco4Mayor.ca
3 February 2010
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Speaking Notes
Mario G. Racco
“Leading Vaughan Responsibly”
Campaign Launch
February 3, 2010
3 February 2010
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Good morning everyone and thank you for being here today.
Over the next eight months I intend to meet every eligible voter in Vaughan. I want to meet them all to share my vision for the City that I want to lead as mayor. I want to show them what this great city we live in can be. I want to prove to them that I can lead this city onto a proper course for the future.
Today, I am officially launching my campaign for mayor of the City of Vaughan.
I have chosen this location for today’s launch for a number of reasons:
• First, the billboard behind me is a sign of Vaughan’s greater future potential thanks to the extension of the subway to our city.
Some of you are too young to remember, but I began lobbying and pushing for the subway extension more than 18 years ago.
First as a Vaughan Councillor, and then as the Member of Provincial Parliament for Thornhill, I worked to bring the subway north of Steeles Avenue because I saw its potential for the city: economic development, increased tax base and decreased traffic gridlock. In 2000 I organized a lobbying group made up of leaders in the GTA to win the extension. It was during my time as MPP that I finally succeeded in getting the $670 million from the province – one-third of the estimated cost.
I am thrilled to see it happen.
• This location is also important as the future City Centre - The Metropolitan Centre. Planned and built properly, it will be a great place for people, culture, entertainment and business and add to Vaughan as a thriving, vibrant city.
My aim as Mayor is to ensure that it is built to bring the maximum benefit to our community.
• I also chose this location because, quite frankly, it illustrates one of Vaughan’s largest challenges: traffic congestion. Highway 7, as most of you know, is one of Vaughan’s most important road. And also one of its busiest. Improving traffic flow, not just on Highway 7 but across our city, is one of my highest priorities, and it will be a key focus of my campaign.
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3 February 2010
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I love Vaughan – its people, its spirit, and everything it has to offer.
The many thousands of citizens I have already spoken with want what I want: A city led
by a mayor who works with others. They want a city that is well-managed.
My record as councilor and my many accomplishments proves that I can deliver the good
management that our city wants. And needs.
Our city also wants – and needs - strong leadership to get things done.
We need responsible leadership. We need a mayor who can bring council together to make
wise - and sometimes tough - decisions on behalf of the people.
I have the experience, I have the skill, and I have the understanding to Lead Vaughan
Responsibly.
I plan to make the following issues my main priorities as Mayor of Vaughan:
• One is transportation, especially improving traffic flow.
As mayor, I will examine every possible way to ease gridlock – from
synchronized traffic lights to better coordination of York Region Transit, Viva
and the TTC, to give residents a reliable option to their car.
• My second priority is better planning.
That means clear rules, and better communication, so people know what is
being planned, when and why.
It also means standing up to developers. I have worked with many developers
over the years to deliver great benefits for the city. But I have also stood up to
many when their interests weren’t Vaughan’s interests.
• And my third priority is openness and accountability at City Hall.
As Council we need to rebuild people’s trust, eliminate the suspicion that
everything is done behind closed doors, and inform them of issues ahead of
time.
3 February 2010
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I will release detailed plans about these and other issues during the course of this campaign
in order to spark ideas and discussion about the solutions we need and the ones I am
proposing. Because healthy debate and a common effort are what are needed to drive any
healthy city.
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To sum up:
I have a vision for our city, one that is well managed, vibrant, and admired by others. Right
now, Vaughan is coming up short in all three areas.
I want to change that.
As mayor, I will change that.
I look forward to the campaign ahead.
THANK YOU.
