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Rob Ford For Mayor? Rob Ford For Mayor!
Photo by Miles Storey/Torontoist.
Rob Ford is still keeping uncharacteristically quiet, at least on the question of his political ambitions. Although the limited segment of the mediasphere that cares about Rob Ford has been buzzing with speculation about an imminent run for Mayor, the outspoken councillor for Ward 2 isn’t ready to go public with a decision—unsurprisingly, he hasn’t returned Torontoist’s call asking for comment.
If David Miller is the ego of City Hall, observing the bedlam from on high with Olympian detachment, Ford is the id. Perpetually in a state of high dudgeon about waste, corruption, or people asking him to apologize for things, Ford wears his outrage on his sleeve like a PETA activist eating dinner at The Keg. As a result, he’s often in the spotlight, whether it’s for hurling drunken insults at a hockey game, weighing in on the “Oriental” work ethic, or getting arrested in a highly public domestic dispute (charges for which were later dropped).
But our next mayor? Really? Why not?
Sure, Ford is a PR firm’s nightmare, but as Mel Lastman proved, that’s no insurmountable obstacle. And somebody likes him—he’s been a councillor for a decade, and in 2006 took 66% of the vote in his ward. He’s even attracted some support, albeit patronizing, in the mainstream media.
For all of his political incorrectness, his populist tirades about unions run amok and out-of-control City Hall spending strike a chord with the Joe and Jane Foodcourts who care more about jobs and taxes than bike lanes and green roofs, who are less interested in next-gen streetcars purring along dedicated rights-of-way than in the cost of a token to get on board. Ford emerged untainted by the 2009 civic workers’ strike (his website notes that he was one of eighteen councillors to vote against the controversial final settlement) and he’s been unexpectedly diplomatic in commenting on the current feud between the TTC and its riders.
That said, it’s unlikely that Ford has the support to propel him to the top of the Magic Kingdom. A poll he commissioned himself placed him third behind George Smitherman and Adam Giambrone (the latter, of course, has since Tiger Woodsed himself out of contention), and even the angriest fiscal conservative might balk at putting the bull in charge of the china shop.
But if a Ford mayoralty is unlikely, a Ford candidacy would have benefits beyond its reality TV appeal, driving discussion to the right in a way that won’t happen with the current crop of left-centrish candidates, The most conservative of the plausible contenders, Rocco Rossi, spent much of 2009 raising money for Michael Ignatieff, and “business candidate” Sarah Thomson lacks the profile, political chops, or deep pockets to have a real shot at the prize. Ford, for all his bluster, knows his way around City Hall, and just because his pronouncements on issues like council perks are crude doesn’t mean they’re wrong.
Rob Ford for mayor? Maybe it’s time to take the Toronto melting pot and stir it up a little.