Karen Stintz’s opponents reacted to news she had dropped out of the race for mayor by praising her contributions to life in Toronto.
"As an advocate, city councillor and as TTC Chair, she championed Toronto neighbourhoods and families, and we all owe her a debt of gratitude for her public service," said John Tory, the current front-runner.
"I know we will continue to see her involved in building Toronto’s great future, and I wish her much happiness and success with her young family."
Mayor Rob Ford, with whom Stintz has had a strained relationship on council, also thanked her.
"Although we did not always see eye-to-eye on my plans to build the Sheppard Subway," he said in a statement, "Councillor Stintz has been a valuable ally who supported me in delivering on my fiscally responsible agenda and saving the City of Toronto hundreds of millions of dollars."
Olivia Chow, a former Toronto councillor, said Stintz contributed to the city’s exchange of ideas.
"We served on city council together, worked well together and she was always a thoughtful, hard-working councillor with our city’s best interests at heart," Chow said in a release.
Later, Chow called Stintz a role model for women wanting to get involved in politics.
David Soknacki, another former councillor who served with Stintz, praised her frank perspective as a veteran of four hard Ford years" and said she will be missed at mayoral debates.
"While I strongly disagreed with Karen on issues like the Scarborough Subway, she always remained a friendly competitor on the campaign trail," Soknacki said, also noting Stintz had been a critic of Ford "at key moments in his administration."
It’s doubtful the Crosstown light-rail line would be under construction without Stintz’s "grit and intervention," he added.
Jean-Pierre Boutros, a former Stintz assistant who is now running to replace her as a councillor in Ward 16, also praised her as a civic leader and "wonderful" person.
"She allowed me to disagree with her, and gave me the freedom to learn what was needed for what we knew I was eventually going to do: Run to represent the ward she ably represented. I have repeatedly thanked her for the opportunity, and am again doing it here," he said in a statement.
Stintz’s departure seemed to offer an opportunity for mayoral candidates who had not gotten the attention offered to top contenders.
One of these, Sarah Thomson, tweeted that since Stintz "will not make" a mayoral debate Thursday evening, "I do hope you will allow me to take her spot since I’m in the top five."
Ari Goldkind also saw room appearing on the stage at future all-candidates events after Stintz’s decision.
"Her departure leaves a 20 per cent hole in the debate platform," Goldkind said in a release, which also praised Stintz for her hard work as a candidate.
"It is essential that this space not disappear. The citizens and voters of Toronto deserve an ongoing dialogue about the issues that affect them."
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