Former TDSB trustee wins Scarborough Southwest byelection, city's official results say

• Toronto City ClerkJohn D. Elvidgehas certified the results for the Ward 20 Scarborough South by-election and declared Parthi Kandavelto be the councillor elected to the ward, the city said in a news release on Dec. 4.

Parthi Kandavel, a former Toronto District School Board trustee, was elected Thursday as the new councillor for Scarborough Southwest, according to official results from the city.

With all 58 polls reporting, Kandavelcaptured 4,641votes in the byelection to representWard 20, capturing 27.3 per centof the vote. Community activist KevinRupasinghewas runner up with 3,854 votes, according to official results.

Kandavel thanked his supporters and the other candidates, saying the campaign wasgrueling.

"It's been a long journey," he said. "To see this result really fills my heart. And the community, it's a place I'vegrown up since 1988, 35 years. I got my first shot at teaching here. I served the community duringa time of reform at the TDSB, eight years," he added.

"I'm proud of the work I had with my colleagues, and now to bring that same strong voice and clear vision forour ward and our city at a timewhere we are starting a new chapter."

Kandavelis set to replace former budget chief Gary Crawford at city hall.

Crawford, elected four times to city hall and a close political ally of former mayor John Tory, resigned his seat to run under the Progressive Conservative banner in July's provincial byelection in neighbouring Scarborough-Guildwood.

Kandavel said he is looking forward to working with Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow.Scarborough is "underserved" by the city,including in such areas as daycare, public transit, infrastructure and community centres,and he said he looks forward to working on those issues.

"The people of Scarborough Southwest, at a very unique time, have given and have called for a practical, progressive option that looks at the challenges and makes sensible, smart solutions that workwith the contours of a unique ward thatin a wayis a microcosm of the city," he said.

Meanwhile, Anna Sidiropoulos placed third, while Malika Ghous placed fourth. Suman Roy, founder of Feed Scarborough, came in fifth place. A total of 23candidates were on the ballot.A total of 16,974 ballots were cast in the byelection.

Chow, for her part, said on Friday that she called Kandavel to congratulate him on his victory and said they had planned to meet in the afternoon. Chow said she and Kandavel have known each other for nearly 10 years.

"I can't wait to work with him. He's very experienced as a school trustee," she said. "He knows what needs to be done. His ideas of building housing, making life more affordable, providing childcare, all of those important services is music to my ears."

In the lead up to Thursday's vote, Scarborough Southwest residents said there are a wide range of issues in the ward, including public transit, affordable housing, jobs andthe high cost of living.

Ron Parkinson, one of the founders of Scarborough United Neighbourhoods a non-partisan group established earlier this year, in part to help voters navigate the byelection previously told CBC Toronto that many people in the ward are struggling.

"There's not just one issue," he said. "With inflation and COVID, people have lost their jobs. The food banks are busy, as you know, and in Scarborough Southwest, it's really affected everybody."

The official election results were certified by city clerkJohn D. Elvidgeon Nov. 30.