Brasher than our famously conciliatory, broom- wielding mayor, and something of a finance wonk, Jane Pitfield entered municipal politics in 1994. She’s been re-elected twice. Besides planning her mayoral campaign, she also sails and plays piano and violin.

Last election campaign, Miller used a broom as an effective prop. Do you have one in mind?
How about an industrial vacuum cleaner? Or a front-end loader? That Miller broom turned out to be a whisk, used to sweep things under the carpet. Props can be effective, but I’d rather rely on my message.

What’s your message on combatting gun crime?
The first step is to make the city as safe as possible. The public tells me they want to see a greater police presence. I had five shootings reported in my ward. If I’d been mayor last summer, I would have had city council meet to illustrate it was a priority.

You wrote Leaside, a book on the history of the neighbourhood. What are some favourite facts?
There was an aerodrome there during the First World War, with some 600 officers being trained to fly, and if the planes didn’t seem to have enough lift they’d aim them at the Don Valley and hope for the best. They also used Lake Ontario for bombing practice.

You’re an amateur musician?
I trained as a violinist. A Métis organization presented me with a fiddle when I arranged to have their flag fly at City Hall for the first time, and I’m really enjoying fiddle playing. I try to see the beauty in everything.

Including David Miller?
This is not about David Miller as a person. It’s about leadership. I’m not a politician so much as a community service worker and a business person. I don’t waste time being political.