Toronto's many mayoral candidates explain why they want your vote on June 26

Toronto has a record 102 candidates running to be the city's next mayor in today's byelection.

Frontrunners have emerged, but a lot of voters may want to look beyond those leading the polls as they make their choice.

CBC Toronto asked every candidate two questions: Why they want to be mayor, and where the public can find more about their platforms. Here's what they said.

(Note: the candidates are listed in alphabetical order. Some candidates have not responded, but this story will be updated if they do. Some responses have been lightly edited for clarity.)

"I am the only one who has a clear agenda for Toronto. I will admit that I do share some politic views with Chris [Saccoccia], however, I do not believe in privatizing the government. I got tired of making social media content expressing my distaste in government. I pleaded with and devised plans for the former administration to start post-pandemic aid but I was rejected on four different occasions."

"I was born and raised in Toronto, I am a retired Toronto Police Officer, single father, and investor, member of the LGBTQ community, I adopted a son from the Toronto Children's aid. I am ready you pick up the pieces left from previous administrations. Toronto requires a true leader and individual who will work for the people and make Toronto a world class city. I am a doer not a talker."

"I am a food safety advocate/consultant. My top two priorities are as follows: 1) I am going to rescind the unnecessary property tax hikes that were recently imposed by the former mayor within my first 100 [days] in the office. Basically I'm going to put that money back in Torontonians' pockets after it's been taken away from them. 2) Public safety as it's always been."

"I am not the status quo and have the outside intelligence and learned experience that can put control of Toronto back in the hands of its citizens."

"As a mayoral candidate, I understand that the challenges facing our city have evolved, requiring a strategic and technologically-driven approach to overcome them. I firmly believe that by harnessing the power of technology, we can effectively address these challenges and emerge victorious in this new mechanistic warfare we call city building."

"I have a plan to fix services and build housing, to make life better and more affordable. When I was 15 and my parents chose Toronto, we felt an overwhelming sense of opportunity. That led to me being elected as a Councillor for 12 years and Deputy Mayor for 5. I will build 285,000 new homes, bring healthcare services to seniors where they live and reverse TTC cuts."

"I'm a Jewish comedian. If you like what Zelenskyy is doing you'll love Ben Bankas for mayor. If you want to see Yuk Yuk's on Richmond Street with lines out the door to see the mayor doing stand up comedy then I highly recommend voting for Ben Bankas."

"I've experienced the pain of our broken system, fuelled by the tragic death of my daughter by police. [Editor's note: Beals is the mother of Regis Korchinski-Paquet. Ontario's Special Investigations Unit cleared the police officers involved of wrongdoing in connection with her death, though the family has filed a $10 million civil lawsuit against Toronto police and the city itself.]

"A non-bureaucrat, I speak from the heart. With lived experience in housing, representation, mental health, and police violence, I've rallied millions, achieved police reform. A marginalized Torontonian, I prioritize forgotten areas, independent of sponsors. I'll listen, learn, represent all."

"Toronto needs a strong fiscal plan. A plan that generates different revenue streams to pay for transit, social assistance, and housing. As a former Member of Parliament, I have the relationships to ensure that Toronto has sustainable, predictable forms of revenue to leave no one behind. This is a time to leverage the political power of Toronto, and I have the political will to get it done."