City council has appointed an Etobicoke resident as the new councillor for Ward 3 Etobicoke Centre.
Peter Leon was selected to fill the seat vacated by former deputy mayor Doug Holyday following three votes Thursday afternoon.
“Thank you for your trust, I look forward to working with you all,” Leon said in his first address to council following the vote.
Leon, who had been endorsed by Holyday, received 26 votes on the third ballot.
In a statement released Thursday evening, Toronto Mayor Rob Ford welcomed the new councillor to city hall.
“I am confident that Coun. Leon will play an important role in advancing the core principals of my administration,” the statement reads.
“Coun. Leon brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to this role.”
More than 40 people submitted their names for the seat after council decided to fill it by appointment instead of a byelection.
Earlier this month, the Etobicoke York Community Council picked former Tory MPP Chris Stockwell as its preferred candidate, but council ultimately went a different direction.
Before Thursday's council vote, each candidate was given five minutes to explain why he or she should be appointed and council members were given time to ask questions.
Holyday vacated the seat when he won a provincial byelection for the Tories in the riding of Etobicoke-Lakeshore on Aug. 1.
