Our own Ulrik Westergaard is in the running for Toronto City Idol. This has nothing to do with singing… thankfully!

But, it has everything to do with Toronto.

About City Idol:

Our local democracy has become dysfunctional. The evidence is voter turnout (under 40%), a City Council that does not reflect the diversity of Toronto, erosion of social programs and a weakening of infrastructure with no cure in sight.

Toronto needs new leaders with energy, hope and imagination.

We’re recruiting one hundred candidates for City Idol. We’re looking for people who are passionate about Toronto and about the issues. People with ideas about important issues such as pollution, poverty, racism, infrastructure, taxes, political engagement, public spaces, social inclusion, sustainable transportation, waste management, energy and the political system itself. Everything is on the table.

We’ll put our candidates in front of a large live audience and instead of singing songs, we’ll ask them to make short speeches, participate in debates, improvise press conferences, answer audience questions and react to emergency situations.

(Via City Idol]

The 100 candidates will get to present themselves and their ideas to the City Idol audience. The audience will vote on a winner. The winner will get help from City Idol for a real campaign to take a legitimate run for City Council.

See Ulrik’s City Idol page and leave some comments and ideas of things you want Ulrik to do for Toronto.