Joe Mihevc

Joe Mihevc
Mihevc in 2012
Toronto City Councillor for Ward 10 Spadina—Fort York
In office June 1, 2022 – November 14, 2022
Preceded by	Joe Cressy
Succeeded by	Ausma Malik
Toronto City Councillor for Ward 21 St. Paul's
In office December 1, 2000 – December 1, 2018
Preceded by	Ward created
Succeeded by	Ward dissolved
Toronto City Councillor for Ward 28 York Eglinton
In office January 1, 1998 – November 30, 2000 Serving with Rob Davis
Preceded by	Ward created
Succeeded by	Ward abolished
York City Councillor for Ward 2
In office December 1, 1991 – December 31, 1997
Preceded by	Tony Mandarano
Succeeded by	City amalgamated
Personal details
Born	(1954-02-24) February 24, 1954 Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Spouse	Rosalee Bender
Children	3
Residence(s)	Toronto, Ontario
Alma mater	University of Toronto
Occupation	Politician adjunct lecturer

Joe Mihevc (/mɪˈhɛvɪk/ ^ⓘ mi-HEV-ik; born February 24, 1954) is a Canadian politician who was appointed to represent Ward 10 Spadina—Fort York on Toronto City Council on June 1, 2022. He was previously elected to represent Ward 21 St. Paul's from 2000 to 2018, Ward 28 York Eglinton from 1998 to 2000 and was a York City Councillor from 1991 to 1997.

Background

Mihevc's family is originally from a small village in Slovenia. They arrived in Canada in 1948 as refugees. Mihevc grew up in Toronto districts of Dufferin and Eglinton, a working class area that borders the northwest corner of his ward. Raised Catholic, Mihevc obtained a PhD in theology and became an adjunct professor of ethics at the University of Toronto.

Political career

He first ran for office in 1991 in the old City of York, and defeated incumbent Tony Mandarano, who had been facing corruption charges. Backed by the New Democratic Party, he rose to the position of deputy mayor of York.

Following the amalgamation of York with five other Metropolitan Toronto municipalities, which he had opposed, Mihevc was elected to the new Toronto city council. In 2000, redistricting resulted in an election battle with the conservative councillor Rob Davis. The election was marred by an anonymous telephone campaign that painted Mihevc as anti-Semitic. Mayor of Toronto Mel Lastman endorsed Davis.

He was chair of Toronto's World Youth Day, and from 2000 to 2003 was chair of the health board. He was in that position during the 2003 SARS outbreak. He also was instrumental in forcing through a ban on the use of lawn pesticides.

Mihevc has been a long-time member of the Toronto Transit Commission and served as Vice-Chair from 2006 to 2010. He supported the St. Clair Avenue streetcar right-of-way. The $100 million investment in new streetcar lanes, hydro undergrounding, new gas lines, and public realm improvements has led to a rejuvenation of the St. Clair West neighbourhood.

Construction was delayed by a failed lawsuit by a group of local residents. A report by a consultant for the TTC, which Councillor Mihevc had commissioned, found numerous faults with the project, among them a lack of centralized project management. This led to a number of changes to construction management protocols.

Despite a high-profile challenge from former pre-amalgamation Toronto mayor John Sewell, Mihevc was easily re-elected to city council in the 2006 election.

Mihevc was re-elected by a substantial margin in November 2010, earning nearly 10,000 of the 17,500 votes cast and approximately 56% of the ward's popular vote.

Mihevc was the chair of the Board of Health, a TTC Commissioner, and sat on the Community Development and Recreation Committee and the Tenant Issues Committee. He was appointed Newcomer Advocate along with Joe Cressy in December 2015.

Following the resignation of Joe Cressy in ward 10, Mihevc was appointed to his seat for the remainder of term council term on June 1, 2022. On June 20, 2022, Mihevc once again became chair of the Board of Health.

Election results

2018 Toronto municipal election, Ward 12 Toronto—St. Paul's
Candidate	Votes	Vote share
Josh Matlow	20,371	51.60%
Joe Mihevc	16,634	42.14%
Ian Lipton	930	2.36%
Elizabeth Cook	908	2.3%
Bob Murphy	342	0.87%
Artur Langu	290	0.73%
Total	39,475	100%
Source: City of Toronto

2014 Toronto election, Ward 21
Candidate	Votes	%
Joe Mihevc	15,745	76.9
Ted Bustamante	1,766	8.6
Cos Licursi	1,728	8.4
Rosina Bonavota	1,223	6.0
Total	20,462	100

2010 Toronto election, Ward 21
Candidate	Votes	%
Joe Mihevc	9,824	56.2
Shimmy Posen	5,328	30.5
Peter Nolan	921	5.3
Beth McLellan	644	3.7
Alex Freedman	454	2.6
Marius Frederick	295	1.7
Total	17,466	100

2006 Toronto election, Ward 21
Candidate	Votes	%
Joe Mihevc	8,092	56.7
John Sewell	3,326	23.3
John Adams	2,712	19.0
Tony Corpuz	150	1.1

2003 Toronto election, Ward 21
Candidate	Votes	%
(incumbent) Joe Mihevc	10,875	65.63
George Milne	3,809	22.98
Howard Levine	1,089	6.57
Maya Tarom	522	3.15
Gregory Moskos	167	1.00
Tony Corpuz	107	0.64

External links

• City of Toronto Councillor Profile