In the latest poll released by Liaison Strategies, veteran politician Carolyn Parrish has surged ahead in the race for Mississauga mayor, establishing a significant lead over her competitors. The poll comes as the city prepares for the mayoral election on June 10, following the departure of former mayor Bonnie Crombie, who left to lead the Ontario Liberal Party.
Carolyn Parrish, a former Ward 5 councillor and Member of Parliament, now leads the field with a substantial 17-point advantage. The poll, conducted on April 29 and 30, shows Parrish with 28% support among all voters, a notable increase of 10 points. Her closest competitors, Ward 7 Councillor Dipika Damerla and Ward 2 Councillor Alvin Tedjo, trail with 20% and 17% respectively.
The survey highlights Parrish’s particularly strong support among senior voters, a crucial demographic given their high turnout rates in elections. Damerla and Tedjo, meanwhile, have their strengths with seniors and the younger demographic, respectively.
The race has seen dynamic changes with 20 candidates initially vying for the position. The recent entry of Brian Crombie, ex-husband of the former mayor, and the withdrawal and endorsement of Peter McCallion, son of Mississauga’s longest-serving mayor Hazel McCallion, have added to the electoral drama.
David Valentin, principal at Liaison Strategies, noted the significant movements in the poll numbers, particularly highlighting Parrish’s growing support base. “The real story is former councillor Carolyn Parrish has grown her support by eight points and now enjoys a 17 point lead,” Valentin stated.
Other candidates in the race include Stephen Dasko, who saw an increase to 11% support, and newcomer Brian Crombie at 7%. The remaining candidates, George Tavares and David Shaw, hold smaller percentages of the vote.
The poll, conducted using interactive voice response technology, surveyed 907 residents and has a margin of error of +/- 3.25%, 19 times out of 20. With a quarter of the electorate still undecided, the race may still see shifts as candidates make their final pushes to sway voters.
As Mississauga approaches election day, the city’s residents are closely watching as candidates outline their visions for the future. The full results and further details can be found on the Liaison Strategies website.