Less than two weeks since making the announcement, Toronto Councillor Giorgio Mammoliti says he will no longer be seeking the Ontario PC Party nomination in Brampton Centre and will run for municipal re-election.
“It’s been overwhelming over the last couple of weeks right after the announcement, I had to make a very difficult decision,” Mammoliti told Global News from his campaign office on Monday.
Since announcing his intention to run provincially on March 20 on Global News Radio 640 Toronto’s The John Oakley Show, Mammoliti said he has been in Brampton meeting with residents and signing up members to the party. He said even though he was facing three candidates, Mammoliti believes he would have won the nomination.
READ MORE: Giorgio Mammoliti, Toronto city councillor, seeking PC nomination in Brampton
“At the end of the day, I’ve got to go home to the people who have supported me for 28 years and that’s what I’m doing right now,” he said, adding he supports all of the candidates running.
“I was confident, very confident, that I could have won the seat … The issue for me was struggling whether or not I should leave the city of Toronto and my constituents.”
Mammoliti said he informed Ontario PC Party Leader Doug Ford, who has been a longtime ally, of his decision on Monday.
Ford posted a brief message of support on Twitter Monday evening.
“I look forward to working together again in the future on municipal issues.”
LISTEN: Giorgio Mammoliti reveals intentions to run in Brampton Centre (March 20)
During Mammoliti’s interview with Oakley, he said he filed his nomination papers on that day with Ford’s support.
“He’s asked me to consider a number to things — one of them was to run for mayor, and the other was to be by his side at Queen’s Park, because there’s a lot of work to be done there as well,” he said at the time.
Mammoliti has represented municipal ridings in west-end Toronto since leaving provincial politics in 1995. He served as a NDP MPP in the Bob Rae administration between 1990 and 1995.
WATCH: Mammoliti and Tory get into heated exchange about road tolls (Dec. 13, 2016)
The veteran conservative councillor is known for his brash political style and opposition to many of Toronto Mayor John Tory’s policies.
He famously sparred with the mayor over his short-lived plan to implement road tolls on Toronto’s expressways in 2016. More recently, he has been a vocal critic of the 2018 city budget and the King Street transit pilot.
In 2010, he ran and then backed out of a Toronto mayoral bid and was later fined for overspending in the campaign.
READ MORE: Toronto councillor defends expensive hotel stay at Ottawa convention
When asked what he plans to focus on during his bid for re-election later this year, Mammoliti didn’t outline specific promises and initiatives but instead focused on Mayor John Tory, spending on major projects and accountability.
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“I think the pressure needs to be kept on the mayor,” Mammoliti said.
“I think there needs to be somebody there that keeps them all honest, and that’s me, and I’m going to continue that fight.”
READ MORE: Councillor Mammoliti wants to ‘punch out’ Mayor Tory’s plan for road tolls
On social media Monday evening, many took aim at Mammoliti and his decision.
“Smart move because what really possibly made him think he had a chance to parachute into a community he has no idea about,” Angie Rehal wrote on Twitter.
“Dear Ward 7, do better than him,” Kevin Menzel tweeted.
READ MORE: London Mayor Matt Brown goes on a political date with Toronto councillor Giorgio Mammoliti
However, Mammoliti said the comments weren’t going to dissuade him or change his approach.
“Bashing me isn’t going to resolve the issue. You’re not going to scare me away. I’ve been here for 28 years and I’m going to be here for another 28 years if I have to be, so go and try and bully somebody else because it doesn’t work with me – in fact, all you’re doing is encouraging me.”
— With files from Kerri Breen
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