Michael Di Biase

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This article is about a Canadian politician. For information about the wrestler see Michael Dibiase.

Michael Di Biase is the former mayor of Vaughan, an exurb of Toronto, Ontario, Canada. He was first elected to the city's council in 1986.^[1] Following the death of Mayor Lorna Jackson in 2002, Di Biase was appointed acting mayor by virtue of his position as senior regional councilor (a position he had held since 1988). In the 2003 municipal election, Di Biase won his first official term as mayor.

The Globe and Mail newspaper reports that Di Biase received an annual salary of $164,074^[2], making him one of the highest-paid municipal politicians in the country.^[3] The next highest paid mayor is Hazel McCallion of Mississauga at $158,704. The mayor of the largest city in Canada, David Miller of Toronto, receives $143,635 per year. The average salary of Vaughan councilors is $102,657 which is second to that of Mississauga at $113,296, while Toronto councilors earn $85,497.

In the 2006 municipal election, Di Biase faced Lorna Jackson's daughter Linda Jackson and lost by 90 votes in one of the closest races of the night. Following the announcement of results, Di Biase requested a recount, however, shortly after, he announced his intention to apply to the Ontario Superior Court to have the results of the election declared illegal and void. ^[4] The hearing will take place on February 15, 2007 in a Newmarket court. As of April 2nd the court decided that there will be a full court case to decide whether to have a hand recount and/or a complete re-election. [1]

In 2006, he was made a Knight Officer of the Order of Merit by the Government of Italy.^[5]