Torontonians won’t head to the polls to elect a new city council for another 10 months but the campaign for the next municipal election officially began Thursday - almost 300 days before people will cast their ballots.
Mayor Rob Ford was the first person to file his nomination papers when the eight-month window opened at 8:30 a.m.
Within hours, Ford and Coun. Karen Stintz, who plans to step down as chair of the TTC and launch her mayoral campaign in February, were trading shots over his leadership after the ice storm struck 12 days ago.
Stintz said there was no clear leadership from Ford, there were communication breakdowns and Deputy Mayor Norm Kelly - not Ford - was the council member who was in contact with Ontario Premier Kathleen Wynne.
Ford has been criticized by some of his council opponents for not declaring an emergency. Because council has stripped the mayor of key powers, the authority over emergencies falls to Kelly.
Ford said he thinks the city’s storm response was “excellent” and he accused Stintz of being absent while he and others worked every day over the holiday season.
“I didn’t see her around during the storm. That’s fine, people can say what they want,” Ford told CP24 reporter Cam Woolley.
Pointing out her role with the TTC, Stintz said the public transit system was fully operational a day after the storm and just because she wasn't present at daily or twice-daily news conferences doesn't mean she wasn't working hard behind the scenes.
Ford's campaign managed by brother
Ford is running on his fiscal record and his bid for re-election is being managed by his brother, Coun. Doug Ford, who said he expects a "nasty" mayoral campaign.
“It’s going to get nasty, there’s no doubt. It’s already started,” Doug Ford told CP24.
Doug Ford is managing his brother's campaign because he isn't seeking re-election as councillor for his Etobicoke ward. He is interested in pursuing provincial politics and has already vowed to run for MPP in the next provincial election.
Toronto’s embattled mayor has had a tumultuous three years in office and he has been defiant through a crack cocaine scandal and other public controversies that have dogged him since he was elected in October 2010.
Ford has repeatedly declared his intention to run for a second term and he may face stiffer competition this time around, although it will likely take a few weeks or months before most contenders emerge.
Stintz and former city councillor David Soknacki have declared their intention to challenge Ford and there are a couple of high-profile Torontonians who are considered potential contenders.
Rumours have been swirling around NDP MP Olivia Chow, a former Toronto city councillor, and former Ontario Progressive Conservative leader John Tory, who lost the 2003 mayoral election to David Miller.
Coun. Denzil Minnan-Wong previously told CP24 he is "seriously considering" a run for mayor.
Ford said he welcomes Chow, Tory and any other challengers who join the race.
"I want them all to run. I’ll go toe-to-toe with any of them," Ford said.
People who are interested in serving a four-year term as mayor, city councillor or school board trustee have until Sept. 12 to file their nomination papers.
The same deadline applies to candidates who decide to withdraw their nomination before the Oct. 27 election.
In 2010, Ford gave up his seat as a city councillor to run for mayor. He won with 47 per cent of the popular vote, defeating former provincial cabinet minister George Smitherman and former deputy mayor Joe Pantalone. Ford replaced Miller, who did not seek re-election after serving two terms in the mayor's office.
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