Tory promised “sensible, competent, accountable” leadership after four years of scandal and controversy under Rob Ford, the Toronto Star writes. Ford, undergoing chemotherapy in light of a cancer diagnosis, will remain as mayor through November. Ford was elected to represent Ward 2 in Etobicoke on Toronto city council.
Tory, 60, will become Toronto’s 65th chief magistrate on Dec. 1.
Tory worked to woo Toronto by campaigning on the promise of a new era of co-operation and consultation after the divisive Ford years. The former Canadian Football League chairman and former provincial leader also promised the “SmartTrack” surface rail line he said would “solve” the city’s traffic congestion problem “quickly.”
Tory finally wins a mayoral election. Tory’s victory comes 11 years after he lost the mayor’s race to David Miller.
Around 1.6 million city residents were eligible to vote at 1,679 polling stations.
Remarking on the mayoral candidates, Lorrie Goldstein of the Toronto Sun writes:
[Olivia Chow] was the sole serious standard bearer for the left and centre-left vote in Toronto while Tory was stuck in a crowded field of candidates seeking to represent the right and centre-right — Rob Ford, then Doug Ford, councillor Karen Stintz and former councillor David Soknacki.
Other electoral votes began to be confirmed Monday evening. Bonnie Crombie won an unexpectedly easy victory in Mississauga, replacing long-time mayor Hazel McCallion, as the Globe & Mail reports. Also, Susan Fennell’s 14-year career as Brampton’s mayor ended as the city elected former MPP Linda Jeffrey to replace its leader.
