If you were handicapping the recent election for chair of the Dufferin-Peel Catholic District School Board, you would have tabbed veteran Ward 9 Trustee Esther O'Toole as the heavy favourite.
With 14 years of experience on the board, including two terms as vice-chair, it would seem that the Catholic school board might actually have elected, for the first time since its inception in 1969, a female chair.
The odds looked even better when you consider that O’Toole’s opposition was Peter Ferreira, a capable man indeed, but one who was only appointed to the board in May of 2004 to replace Art Steffler. That what was considered a major surprise at the time.
Well, that’s why they hold the vote.
Ferreira won in a secret ballot and, yes, there are some hard feelings on O’Toole’s part.
“All kinds of deals can be made behind closed doors,” she said provocatively.
Asked if gender was a factor, O’Toole responded with, “no comment,” adding that, “Maybe it was my last name.”
That was apparently a reference to the number of Italian-Canadians on the board.
Ouch. That accusation might carry more weight if Ferreira weren’t Portuguese. He’s president of the Portuguese Canadian Cultural Centre and the Portuguese Canadian National Congress.
The immigration consultant, who represented Ward 3 on the board from 1985-’88, has a long-time political interest, having served capably as Dufferin-Peel’s representative on the Mississauga Library Board and eventually becoming chair.
“I would hope it means my peers recognize in me the ability to lead this board,” the new chair said when asked why he thinks he won. “I don’t think gender plays a part. I don’t believe people should vote on gender.”
As for the behind-the-scene deals O’Toole cited, is it possible that Ferreira’s profile is being raised for another run for Ward 3 councillor?
After entering the race with only three weeks left in the campaign in 2003, he polled a remarkable 44.3 per cent of the vote against long-time incumbent Maja Prentice, a number that raised a lot of eyebrows.
“I’ve not made a final decision,” about whether he’ll run for trustee in Ward 6, (where he does not live) or whether he’ll run for council. “I’m not committed to anything at this point.”
As for O’Toole, she’s not tempted to run for council in the new Ward 10 where she lives and where there is no incumbent.
She’ll be seeking re-election to the Dufferin-Peel school board.
“I want to be the first female chair of the board,” she says defiantly. “I think I’ve earned it.”