#MovetheDial founder and CEO Jodi Kovitz has joined the re-election campaign committee for current Toronto mayor John Tory.
Kovitz joins former Ontario Minister of Economic Development and Growth, Brad Duguid, and Think Research director of strategic partnerships, Tom Allison, as co-chairs on the committee.
Tory and Kovitz have worked together on tech and diversity initiatives in the past.
“I am thrilled to be a co-chair for Mayor John Tory as he seeks re-election in Toronto,” said Kovitz. “As a tech sector CEO, I cannot give enough credit to the efforts John Tory has made to foster Toronto as a global tech centre and to promote our companies, our achievements, and our talent to the world. He understands the needs of our dynamic industry and has helped us deliver great benefits to the city, to businesses, and to thousands of employees and residents of Toronto.”
Tory and Kovitz have worked together on tech and diversity initiatives in the past. Last June, the mayor spoke at a #MovetheDial event, pledging to only attend events that have diverse representation in their programming. His pledge was shared with Michelle Holland, current advocate for the innovation economy at the City of Toronto. The City of Toronto sponsored Move The Dial’s kickoff event in January 2017 through its entrepreneurship services division, which operates separately from the mayor’s office.
Kovitz is also a co-chair on the #TechforSickKids campaign, which is raising $25 million from the Canadian tech community to modernize the hospital (disclosure: BetaKit is a member of the #TeckforSickKids advisory council).
“I am proud of the team my campaign is building and the momentum we are seeing across the city,” said Tory. “I am excited to have these diverse and talented people who are leaders in their fields join my team so we can continue to keep life affordable, build transit and work with the other levels of government to get things done for the people of Toronto.”
Toronto’s municipal election will take place on October 22.