Shock Wave Within the Gruesome Twosome Bloc

Over the last few weeks, we learnt how significantly municipal voting records matter.  Failed PC candidate and current Ward 3 Councillor Jane Twinney couldn't hide from all her tax hikes and broken promises.  She was ignominiously defeated on June 12th as Newmarket Aurora voted Liberal for the first time ever. 

This result has sent a shock wave through the Gruesome-Twosome bloc on Newmarket Council. 

News has since surfaced that Jane Twinney lost the polls located in her own ward.  Her unpopularity in Ward 3 at the provincial level casts serious doubt whether she could win if she decides to re-up municipally.  I predict that we will see a new Ward 3 councillor come October. 

Since the election, Ward 7 Councillor Chris Emanuel, announced he would not seek re-election which will definitely impact the bloc's position on Council.  There is a lot of distrust and anger simmering towards both Van Bynen and Taylor over the Glenway debacle.  Glenway residents rightfully feel that they were double-crossed.  I have no doubt that the Gruesome Twosome will have their candidate running in Ward 7, but I have serious doubts if that candidate can win. 

So if the Gruesome Twosome bloc that currently consists of Van Bynen, Taylor, Twinney, Emanuel, and Hempen, gets reduced to three members, then what does that mean for the next term of Council?

Monday night's meeting gave a glimpse of how worried the Gruesome Twosome bloc really is.  Whether it was John Taylor speaking at a mile a minute to defend his pro-development stance, or Jane Twinney inexplicably dredging up Frank Klees' private member's bill (apropos of nothing); clearly they are worried that they are losing. 

Only Ward 1 Councillor Tom Vegh and Ward 6 Councillor Maddie Di Muccio have yet to declare their intentions for October.  In particular, Di Muccio's tactics make things very difficult for both Taylor and Van Bynen.  Effectively, they are both running against Di Muccio as the rumours that she will opt for one of their seats continue to swirl. 

What scares Van Bynen and Taylor the most is that they must run on their own track record, as Jane Twinney was forced to do during the provincial race, and potentially face the same results that Twinney received.