Editing David Zimmer (section)

=== Member of Provincial Parliament for Willowdale ===
In the [[2003 Ontario general election|2003 Ontario provincial election]], Zimmer ran as the Liberal candidate in the riding of [[Willowdale (provincial electoral district)|Willowdale]], defeating [[Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario|Progressive Conservative]] incumbent and sitting [[Minister of Municipal Affairs (Ontario)|Minister of Municipal Affairs]] [[David Young (Ontario politician)|David Young]] by 1,866 votes.<ref name="2003 results">{{cite web |url=http://results.elections.on.ca/results/2003_results/valid_votes.jsp?e_code=38&rec=0&district=willowdale&flag=E&layout=G |title=Summary of Valid Ballots by Candidate |publisher=Elections Ontario |date=October 2, 2003 
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140911222344/http://results.elections.on.ca/results/2003_results/valid_votes.jsp?e_code=38&rec=0&district=Willowdale&flag=E&layout=G |archive-date=September 11, 2014}}</ref> The contest, billed in the press as "the battle of the Davids",<ref>"Battling Davids don't sling shots". ''[[Toronto Star]]'', Sep 23, 2003, p.C2.</ref> was considered a key race to watch given Young's profile as a possible future PC leader and Willowdale's long history of being represented by prominent PC ministers.<ref>"Young tries to hold key riding; Willowdale". ''The North York Mirror'', 26 Sep, 2003, p.5.</ref> Willowdale was where the PC came the closest to retaining a seat within the City of Toronto in 2003. Despite the competitive contest, Zimmer maintained cordial relations with Young and Young's predecessor [[Charles Harnick]], both predecessors to Zimmer not only as MPP for Willowdale but also as [[Ministry of Aboriginal Affairs (Ontario)|Ministers of Aboriginal Affairs]] in the Progressive Conservative Ministry of [[Mike Harris]]. Zimmer fended off a challenge by high profile local councillor [[David Shiner (politician)|David Shiner]] in [[2007 Ontario general election|2007]],<ref name=ts>{{cite news |url=https://www.thestar.com/ontarioelection/article/265720 |title=Willowdale: Zimmer trumpets victory over 'high-profile' councillor |newspaper= Toronto Star|date=October 11, 2007|author= John Goddard |access-date=May 22, 2010 }}</ref> and was re-elected again [[2011 Ontario general election|2011]],<ref name="2011 results">{{cite web|url=http://elections.on.ca/NR/rdonlyres/7849B894-4C4F-490E-9E8C-271BCF0C0D4D/5712/SummaryofvalidvotescastforeacndGE2011.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130330163815/http://elections.on.ca/NR/rdonlyres/7849B894-4C4F-490E-9E8C-271BCF0C0D4D/5712/SummaryofvalidvotescastforeacndGE2011.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-date=March 30, 2013 |title=Summary of Valid Ballots Cast for Each Candidate |publisher=Elections Ontario |date=October 6, 2011 |access-date=2014-03-02 |page=19 }}</ref> and [[2014 Ontario general election|2014]],<ref name="2014 results">{{cite web |title=General Election by District: Willowdale |publisher=Elections Ontario |date=June 12, 2014 |url=http://wemakevotingeasy.ca/en/general-election-district-results.aspx?d=101 |access-date=August 16, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140923154203/http://wemakevotingeasy.ca/en/general-election-district-results.aspx?d=101 |archive-date=September 23, 2014 |url-status=dead }}</ref> increasing his share of vote and margin of victory each time.

Between 2003 and 2011, Zimmer served as [[Parliamentary Assistant]] to [[Attorney General of Ontario|Attorneys General]] [[Michael Bryant (politician)|Michael Bryant]] and [[Chris Bentley (politician)|Chris Bentley]]. Between 2011 and 2013, Zimmer served as Parliamentary Assistant to [[Kathleen Wynne]], then [[Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing (Ontario)|Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing]] and [[Ministry of Aboriginal Affairs (Ontario)|Minister of Aboriginal Affairs]]. He was a member of the Standing Committee on Public Accounts (2003–06, 2007–11, 2012), Standing Committee on Estimates (2006–07), Standing Committee on Justice Policy (2006–11), Standing Committee on General Government (2012), Select Committee on Elections (2008–09), and Select Committee on the proposed transaction of the TMX Group and the London Stock Exchange Group (2011).

In 2004, his motion to create an "Elder Abuse Awareness Day" was passed with support from all parties.<ref>{{cite news |title=Ontario marks first provincial Elder Abuse Awareness Day |work=Canada NewsWire |date=October 19, 2004}}</ref> He also assisted former Ontario Attorney General [[Michael Bryant (politician)|Michael Bryant]] with legislation to ban pit bulls in Ontario. In 2006, he sponsored a Private Member’s Bill which will suspend the driver’s license of anyone who is convicted of impaired boating. It passed with unanimous consent of all parties in the Ontario Legislature.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.canada.com/globaltv/national/story.html?id=b51b68ea-a815-4274-afb5-6855d321f48c&k=45695 |title=Ontario tightens penalties for impaired boat operators |publisher=www.canada.com |access-date=May 22, 2010 |date=June 24, 2006 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121108173054/http://www.canada.com/globaltv/national/story.html?id=b51b68ea-a815-4274-afb5-6855d321f48c&k=45695 |archive-date=November 8, 2012 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

Zimmer was awarded the Greatest Local Hero Award by the ''North York Town Crier'' for his volunteer and community work in Willowdale.{{citation needed|date=October 2012}} In 2005, he received a "Social Work Doctors’ Colloquium" Award of Merit for his work toward a just and caring society.<ref>{{cite news |title=Zimmer honoured for social work |work=The North York Mirror |date=March 18, 2005}}</ref> He has also been cited for work on Ontario Municipal Board reform and the new City of Toronto Act, which gives Toronto greater power to manage its own affairs.

During [[2013 Ontario Liberal Party leadership election|Ontario Liberal Party's 2012-13 leadership election]], Zimmer along with [[Linda Jeffrey]], [[Reza Moridi]] and [[Mario Sergio (politician)|Mario Sergio]], were the first four caucus supporters of [[Kathleen Wynne]]'s candidacy, declaring their support at Wynne's campaign launch on November 5, 2012.