Candidate: Ron Nurwisah

Who are you? I'm a freelance writer and editor here in Toronto. I've been published in magazines such as This, Broken Pencil and Spacing. I've also been working with the Toronto Public Space Committee on issues like billboards, monster garbage bins and many more.

Why are you running? I'm running because so many people on city council don't have a vision for the city that serves the people who live here. They're putting forward ideas that go against the welfare of so many Torontonians; many of the current councillors are pro-corporations, anti-environmental and ultimately betray not just their constituents but the city as a whole.

What should a City Councillor be? A city councillor must have courage; the courage to stand up for those who no one else will stand for, like the homeless, new immigrants, the poor, the disabled. A city councillor must have the courage to put forward new ideas that will be good for the city and fight for them; ideas like more bike lanes, a congestion tax on cars, protecting our public spaces from ad creep and corporatization, and making sure city services are available to all Torontonians, no matter what their background.

Anything else? I am a man in love. I moved here from Vancouver a couple of short years ago and have fallen in love with Toronto, its neighbourhoods, its people and the sheer optimism of a city that believes it can be better. Ultimately this why I think I can make a great councillor for a great city.

We need new leaders.