On Monday, nearly 72 hours since Toronto Mayor John Tory made a stunning revelation about his personal life and his plans to quit as mayor, a list has emerged of confirmed and potential candidates to replace him.
On Friday evening Tory called an unexpected press conference at City Hall, where he announced he is resigning as mayor after admitting he had been in a relationship with a former city hall staff member that lasted months.
The announcement came an hour after the Toronto Star first broke the news of the mayor’s conflict of interest.
Tory described the relationship he once had with the unknown staffer as a “serious error of judgement.”
The outgoing mayor’s resignation is still pending as he didn’t officially send in his resignation to city hall officials. It is expected to happen in a few days time once he plans a transition of power with the deputy mayor, city manager, and city clerk.
Here’s a look at who might replace Tory at City Hall in alphabetical order:
Blake Acton, a retired Toronto police officer who finished in fourth place in the last election, posted on his social media handle that he will also be running again.
I repeat to the people of Toronto, this summer elect Blake Acton as your next Mayor for a CLEAN & SAFE Toronto @joe_warmington @brianlilley @SueAnnLevy @genevalaitis @GSawision @CP24 @CP24Breakfast pic.twitter.com/uNzxQW44VV
— BlakeActon running for Mayor of Toronto (@BlakeJActon) February 11, 2023
Chloe Brown, a policy analyst who ran in the last fall’s city election and finished in third place, has said she will run again, a day before the scandal involving Tory broke out.
I would run for office again with the sole intention of conducting public inquiries and retroactive audits #TOpoli https://t.co/2Vnq0T44No
— CB (@chloebrownTO) February 9, 2023
Joe Cressy, a former Toronto city councillor for the downtown area, over the weekend turned down the opportunity to replace Tory in a tweet.
Last year I left politics to spend more time with my family. While recent events have changed the political landscape, they haven’t changed my desire to be a present dad.
I couldn’t be the Mayor our city deserves while being the type of parent I want to be.
My full statement: pic.twitter.com/rwiCphQyvz
— Joe Cressy (@joe_cressy) February 12, 2023
Michael Ford, Ontario’s Minister of Citizenship and Multiculturalism who is also a former Toronto city councillor and nephew of both Ontario Premier Doug Ford an his late brother Rob Ford, is also a rumoured candidate, according to what CTV News is reporting. Ford is the Ontario PC MPP for York South-Weston.
Mike Layton, former Toronto city councillor, and son of the late former federal NDP leader Jack Layton, is considered a possible candidate, according to the Toronto Star.
Georgio Mammoliti, a former longtime Toronto city councillor, is in. He unsuccessfully ran for mayor in the Wastage beach area, but CityNews reporter Cynthia Mulligan says he in tweet that he told her that “he is considering running for mayor of Toronto after John Tory’s resignation.”
Joe Mihevc, a former veteran Toronto city councillor, is not in. He said in a tweet that “the time to consider the future politics of Toronto can wait a moment.”
For the moment, it is time to feel the pain of the moment, to wish and pray that Mayor Tory and all involved work this through in a good way. The time to consider the future politics of TO can wait a moment.
— Joe Mihevc (@joemihevc) February 11, 2023
Gil Penalosa, a popular progressive urbanist who finished in second-place behind Tory in last fall’s election, has officially declared that he will for mayor once again, after the by-election date is set. In a tweeted video, he said that “he can create an affordable, equitable, sustainable city for everyone.”
I’ll be running for mayor of Toronto. Together, we can create an affordable, equitable, sustainable city, a Toronto for Everyone. Please share. pic.twitter.com/lKJkHcwVm4
— Toronto for Everyone with Gil Penalosa (@Penalosa_G) February 11, 2023
Toronto residents have been in this familiar territory of controversy surrounding a mayor.
Almost 10 years ago, Tory’s predecessor, the late Rob Ford’s four-year mayoral term was plagued by scandals and controversies, particularly the crack-smoking video scandal, and his personal life struggle with substances.
Ford refused to resign, although most of his powers were eventually stripped from him by city council during his last year as mayor, and he became a focus of late night comedy show jokes and made headlines around the world.
Once Tory officially resigns, it is expected that Jennifer McKelvie, deputy mayor and city councillor for ward 25 Scarborough-Rouge Park will be the acting mayor until the 2023 by-election, which will be at a to-be-determined date.