Mayoral candidate Rob Ford elected to spend the evening campaigning in the city’s west end rather than participate in a mayoral forum held in Greektown.

Ford announced Tuesday afternoon that he would be canvassing door-to-door with volunteers in the Jane Street and Finch Avenue area Tuesday night.

Speaking with the media at city hall earlier in the day, Coun. Doug Ford said the decision was about giving the public what they want.

“We’re going to be hitting probably over a thousand homes versus 50 people in a basement,” said the mayor’s brother. “The people want to see the mayor at their front door – they don’t want to see him in a basement somewhere with 20 other people playing party politics.”

Coun. Ford said that the mayor would be participating in the six forthcoming debates planned by the major television networks.

“There’s no one in this country that has debated more than Rob Ford,” he said. “I think everyone in this city, in this province, in this country, is very clear (on) what the mayor stands for.”

The two-hour debate, organized by the Greenwood Community Association, was held at Kimbourne Park United Church and included candidates Olivia Chow, David Soknacki and John Tory.

The candidates were each given five minutes to address questions on transit, policing and neighbourhood safety, and their broad vision for the city.

Candidates then fielded a number of questions from the audience in attendance on topics including Toronto Hydro, rail and pipeline safety in the city, and the environment.