Michael Thompson, a Scarborough councillor who wanted to continue serving on the Toronto Police Services Board, won’t be on it.
The Scarborough Centre veteran was ready to accept the news on Monday, "after a frank and open discussion" with Toronto’s new mayor John Tory, who offered him the economic development post Thompson also had last council term.
"I’m going to focus on addressing the issues that I’m responsible for now," Thompson, who wouldn’t say whether he is disappointed, added in an interview.
Thompson, who was the civilian police board’s vice chairperson, made it clear he had wanted to remain, and not just for continuity’s sake.
He said in a statement he wanted to ensure "positive changes" begun in the last term on the police force’s "carding" policy, its "paid duty" assignments and control of its spending in general, would continue.
After an embarrassing report, disputed by Chief Bill Blair, on how carding was being done at 31 Division in North York, Thompson warned some members of the force were resisting change and that some hoped the new board "will not have the energy" to deal with carding.
In one interview, Thompson also agreed with Alok Mukherjee, the board’s chairperson, that police faced a "crisis of confidence" in some parts of the city.
Tory seemed to take note of this and other sources of friction at the board.
Though he said he sees "bias-free policing" as a priority, the mayor last week declared he is not satisfied with the "increasingly polarized" relations between the board, the force and the community.
He also seemed to reference a controversial board decision this summer seeking to prevent Thompson from voting on the possible extension of Blair’s contract because of some published remarks from Thompson. The board dropped this position after Thompson applied to have it reviewed in court.
Tory has said he wants to take a seat on the board himself, and on Monday, Thomson said in a statement he is no longer interested in standing for a board seat.
Thompson said Tory assured him he will "continue to have a voice" and work with the mayor as he pursues issues at the board Thompson believes are important.
"I am satisfied that he means what he says," the councillor added in his statement, saying this decision gives him more time to concentrate on economic development, which Thompson called "my passion."
After a term which saw "a lot of restructuring" in related city agencies, the economic development committee will continue to attract more business to Toronto, help local businesses gain access to new markets, work with other regions, and create opportunities for youth, the councillor said.
Other councillors on the last police board, Mike Del Grande and Frances Nunziata, will be replaced by Shelley Carroll of North York and Scarborough’s Chin Lee.