David Soknacki
Encyclopedia
David Soknacki is a former city councillor in Toronto
, Canada
. He represented one of the two Scarborough East
wards.
He moved to eastern Scarborough
in 1963, and founded the Densgrove Park Community Association. He first ran for Scarborough city council in 1991, but lost to Frank Faubert
. When Faubert chose to run for the mayor's job in 1994, Soknacki tried for the seat again. This time he was successful, defeating Glenn De Baeremaeker
and Zephine Wailoo.
When Scarborough was amalgamated with the City of Toronto
and four other municipalities in 1997, ran for a seat on the new Toronto
city council, but came in third, losing to Faubert and Ron Moeser
. In June 1999, however, Faubert died of cancer and a by-election called to replace him. Soknacki won by a considerable margin in a field of seven candidates.
During his first term on city council, one of his accomplishments was the creation of a position of poet laureate
for the city. He was seen as a centre-right member of city council, but also had links to the left. Unusually for a right winger, he was endorsed by the left-leaning NOW magazine
in the 2003 municipal election
, and was appointed to the important position of budget chief by mayor David Miller in 2003, despite Soknacki's support for Miller's rival John Tory
in the election.
On August 22, 2006 Soknacki announced that he was retiring from politics. He gave no reasons for leaving city council but said he was returning to run his spice importing business. He said he would leave after finishing the current term of council which ended on November 30, 2006.
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
. He represented one of the two Scarborough East
Scarborough East
Scarborough East was a Canadian electoral district represented in the Canadian House of Commons from 1968 to 2003, and was represented in the Legislative Assembly of Ontario to 2007, and on Toronto City Council....
wards.
He moved to eastern Scarborough
Scarborough, Ontario
Scarborough is a dissolved municipality within the city of Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Geographically, it comprises the eastern part of Toronto. It is bordered on the south by Lake Ontario, on the west by Victoria Park Avenue, on the north by Steeles Avenue East, and on the east by the Rouge River...
in 1963, and founded the Densgrove Park Community Association. He first ran for Scarborough city council in 1991, but lost to Frank Faubert
Frank Faubert
Frank J. Faubert was a Canadian provincial and municipal politician in Ontario, Canada. He served in the Legislative Assembly of Ontario as a Liberal from 1987 to 1990, and was the final Mayor of Scarborough before its amalgamation into the City of Toronto...
. When Faubert chose to run for the mayor's job in 1994, Soknacki tried for the seat again. This time he was successful, defeating Glenn De Baeremaeker
Glenn De Baeremaeker
Glenn De Baeremaeker is a city councillor in Toronto, Canada, who represents Ward 38, one of the two Scarborough Centre wards. The son of a working class family he has a Masters in international development and spent six months in Ethiopia at the height of the 1980s famine.He originally rose to...
and Zephine Wailoo.
When Scarborough was amalgamated with the City of Toronto
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
and four other municipalities in 1997, ran for a seat on the new Toronto
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
city council, but came in third, losing to Faubert and Ron Moeser
Ron Moeser
Ron Moeser is the Toronto City Councillor for Ward 44 Scarborough East in Toronto, Canada.Moeser was first elected to what was then the Scarborough City Council in 1988 representing the West Rouge community. He chaired the waterfront committee in Scarborough and was active in the preservation of...
. In June 1999, however, Faubert died of cancer and a by-election called to replace him. Soknacki won by a considerable margin in a field of seven candidates.
During his first term on city council, one of his accomplishments was the creation of a position of poet laureate
Poet Laureate
A poet laureate is a poet officially appointed by a government and is often expected to compose poems for state occasions and other government events...
for the city. He was seen as a centre-right member of city council, but also had links to the left. Unusually for a right winger, he was endorsed by the left-leaning NOW magazine
NOW (magazine)
Now is a free weekly newspaper in Toronto, Canada. It was first printed on September 10, 1981 by Michael Hollett and Alice Klein. Now is an alternative weekly mixing arts and entertainment news with political coverage....
in the 2003 municipal election
Toronto municipal election, 2003
The Toronto municipal election of 2003 was held on November 10, 2003, in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, to elect the Mayor of Toronto, 44 city councillors, and school board trustees.David Miller was elected mayor ....
, and was appointed to the important position of budget chief by mayor David Miller in 2003, despite Soknacki's support for Miller's rival John Tory
John Tory
John Howard Tory is a Canadian businessman, political activist, former leader of the Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario, former Member of Provincial Parliament and broadcaster...
in the election.
On August 22, 2006 Soknacki announced that he was retiring from politics. He gave no reasons for leaving city council but said he was returning to run his spice importing business. He said he would leave after finishing the current term of council which ended on November 30, 2006.