Former mayor of Toronto, and current senator, Art Eggleton ended a 19-year stretch of staying out of mayoral races by throwing his support behind George Smitherman on Friday.
“We need somebody who has a strong vision of this city, somebody who has the policies to implement and the ability to articulate it to inspire the citizens of this city,” Mr. Eggleton told the media after Mr. Smitherman addressed the Toronto Board of Trade.
“The mayor of Toronto is the face of this city to the world. The face and the voice, and it’s important to have the right person in that position because you need to attract people to come here to work, you need to attract the talent, you need to attract the investment you need to attract tourism,” said Mr. Eggleton. He declined to comment on Rob Ford, or any other candidate. He said he voiced his opinion this year because he cares about Toronto’s future.
“We need to have a balance. We need to, of course, recognize the respect we should have for taxpayers dollars, that we should cut waste and keep the spending under control but at the same time we have to build this city, continue to recognize the need to develop the quality of life that is so important to attracting that investment and attracting the talent that we need in this city,” he said.
Mr. Eggleton’s endorsement comes as Councillor Adam Vaughan, a left-leaning councillor who represents the downtown ward of Trinity Spadina, said he is “endorsing strategic voting” by advising constituents to vote for Mr. Smitherman over deputy mayor Joe Pantalone.
“I’m asked in my ward how do we stop Rob Ford, and I think that George Smitherman has become the only answer,” Mr. Vaughan said in an interview. “I can work with George, I’m prepared to work with George and it’s a responsible and a reasoned reaction to the polls.” He said Mr. Smitherman has supported major initiatives he’s leading in his ward, including revitalizing 15 parks and transforming John Street into a “cultural corridor”. He said Mr. Ford, his nemesis on council, is a “serious threat to everything I have done in the last four years.” Councillors Pam McConnell (Toronto Centre-Rosedale) and Joe Mihevc (St. Paul’s), both left-leaning councillors, have also endorsed Mr. Smitherman.
Mr. Ford, meanwhile, picked up the endorsement of John Parker this week. In a statement Mr. Parker, who is seeking re-election in Ward 26 (Don Valley West) said “Rob Ford is the only mayoral candidate who will deliver the change that Toronto taxpayers are looking for,” and called his an “energetic and forward-thinking campaign.”
Mr. Ford said Mr. Parker has “always stood up for the taxpayers and opposed David Miller’s tax and spend agenda.”
Councillors Frances Nunziata (York South-Weston), Mike Del Grande (Scarborough-Agincourt) and Giorgio Mammoliti (York West) have also endorsed Mr. Ford as mayor.
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