Adam Giambrone’s bid for mayor will push ahead: campaign manager

Adam Giambrone’s campaign for mayor of Toronto will plow ahead despite a published report about his "inappropriate relationship" with a 19-year-old university student, according to his campaign manager.

In an interview with the National Post, John Laschinger, chairman of Giambrone’s campaign, said the candidate is spending time with friends and family.

"This has been a painful day for Adam," Laschinger said. "But he’s apologized. He’s embarrassed for the reflection on Sarah [McQuarrie], his family and friends.

"In this day and age, we think the public expects their politicians to be frank and fully transparent, to step up to the plate and acknowledge errors. He’s done that, as painful as it was."

Giambrone, who currently lives with long-time partner Sarah McQuarrie, admitted to a relationship with university student Kristen Lucas after she forwarded a series of text messages to the Toronto Star. Lucas said she had been in a relationship with Giambrone for about a year, beginning when she was 19.

After the Toronto Star mistakenly identified Giambrone as married in a recent profile, Lucas shared text messages with the newspaper about their relationship:

"You know I will be announcing I have a partner," Giambrone, 32, wrote in a text message to Lucas Dec. 27. "It is someone named Sarah, who I’ve been involved with in the past. It is important for the campaign."

Giambrone told the newspaper his relationship with Lucas was limited to text messages and conversations in public: "Realizing the mistake this relationship was I tried to end it some months ago and finally broke off all contact."

The campaign since received "a number of messages of sympathy and support for Adam, urging him to continue on," Laschinger added.

"We’re moving forward, planning the campaign," Lashinger said.

The campaign has also received a fair share of snipes and barbs on Giambrone’s Facebook page.

"Um…he had sex in City Hall," one commenter writes. "You know, the place our tax dollars pay for. You know, when he was supposed to be working on issues for the people of the city."

Councillors at City Hall had mixed reactions to the Giambrone affair.

"I just think this kind of gutter reporting, I have no tolerance for it," said Councillor Sandra Bussin. "He’s running for mayor, and it’s about his personal relationship. He’s not married, and I’m wondering where we ever draw the line on personal relationships."

In terms of allegations that he revealed the details about the fare hike, Ms. Bussin said "it was already out in the public domain. I don’t believe that was truly confidential."

Meanwhile, Councillor Michael Walker said the scandal reinforces his previously held opinion that Mr. Giambrone should resign as chair of the Toronto Transit Commission.

"There is more and more distractions, and quite frankly the TTC is a multi-billion operation and it’s not being run very well and this just confirms it," said Mr. Walker. "If he’s going to run for mayor, he should be concentrating on that. He can’t do his job properly as the head of the TTC."

Giambrone, chairman of the Toronto Transit Commision, is dealing with fallout over his personal life while the TTC battles a public image crisis over drivers taking unscheduled coffee breaks and napping on the job.

During a fiery press conference Tuesday morning, TTC union chief Bob Kinnear said: "I have no comment on the story relating to Mr. Giambrone. Obviously he is going to have to deal with his actions."