A former provincial cabinet minister who left politics amid an expense scandal nine years ago has been chosen as the preferred candidate to replace former deputy mayor Doug Holyday on city council.
Chris Stockwell received six of nine votes on the third ballot during a special Etobicoke York Community Council meeting Tuesday afternoon.
Former Etobicoke Coun. Agnes Potts received two votes while former MP and one-time mayoral candidate John Nunziata received one.
A total of 45 candidates had expressed interest in filling the vacant seat, which became available when Holyday was victorious in a provincial byelection in August.
City council will vote on whether to accept Stockwell’s nomination during their regular meeting next Tuesday.
A former Minister of Labour in the Mike Harris government, Stockwell left cabinet in 2003 in the wake of a scandal concerning expenses he had claimed while on a trip to Europe.
Stockwell did not re-offer in a subsequent provincial election later that year.
