Etobicoke councillor confirms months of speculation about running for mayor

Etobicoke North’s famously frugal councillor Rob Ford officially announced his bid for the mayoralty this morning during his regular weekly appearance on AM640’s John Oakley Show.


Making good on his promise to Oakley that he’d be the first in the know, Ford, flanked by his mother Diane and brothers Andy and Doug, finally went on the record about his candidacy after months of speculation that he’d run to replace Mayor David Miller come Oct. 25.

“Today I’d like to officially say that I’m running for mayor of Toronto,” he stated, to cheers from his well-wishing “entourage” in the studio. 
“I gave David Miller the benefit of the doubt in his first term, but the last four years I’ve seen this city deteriorate to where people just can’t afford to live in the city…We’ve been hit with the land transfer tax, a garbage tax, a car registration taxes, property taxes, the water rates have gone up 20 per cent – we’re being taxed to death,” he continued.

With a decade of experience in both business and in politics, Ford said he’s just the kind of mayoral candidate the city needs to turn itself around and encourage a left-to-right regime change to replace those “tax and spend” councillors on council.

“We need someone with business experience like I have running a multi-million dollar company for the last 10 years. I have ten years of political experience; I know how to get things done in city hall,” he said. “Most importantly, I’m flexible – I can take care of the little people who don’t have a voice.”

When questioned how his frugal ways would mesh with a city rife with both debt (to the tune of $3 billion, according to Ford) and a need for social services, Ford contended that it doesn’t cost a lot of money to deliver excellent services.

“The most frustrating thing is when people call city hall and don’t get a call back, or no one responds to email. That doesn’t cost money,” he said.

“That’s leadership. That starts from the top. That comes from the mayor’s office.”

Doug Ford, who it has been speculated might run to replace his younger brother as councillor in Ward 2, said running for mayor and “standing up and speaking out” was deemed Ford’s “moral obligation” once John Tory bowed out of the race.

“Rob is a compassionate and caring person and he has a heart,” he said. “That’s what he’s going to bring to the mayor’s office.”

Ford will unveil his official campaign platform at a complimentary Wine and Cheese party tomorrow night, Friday, March 26 at 7 p.m. at the Toronto Congress Centre’s North Building, 650 Dixon Rd. (at Hwy. 27 and Dixon Road). Ford said all are welcome to attend the free-of-charge event in celebration of his “10 years of working for the people.”

– Cynthia Reason

Tags: Etobicoke North, Ward 2
Posted in Mayoral race, News