Toronto Mayor Rob Ford literally swept into office on a promise of eliminating waste, holding the line on taxes, taking away undeserved privileges for council members and reducing the power of unions. You know for the most part he has delivered on many of his commitments. But to know surprise he has alienated people and ignored rules and laws that he just doesn't fit into his way of thinking. This should come as no surprise since he operated in the same manner when he was a Toronto councillor.
But his problems with ignoring rules and laws may come back to haunt him when he runs for re-election in 2 years or sooner if a judge throws him out of office as a result of a conflict of interest lawsuit. As a reminder to all, here is a run down on some of the Mayor's problems:
Boardwalk Pub Libel Suit
Council gives final approval to a 20-year lease extension for Tuggs Incorporated, the company that has operated the Boardwalk Pub in Ashbridge’s Bay Park under contract to the City since 1986. The extension is controversial because it hasn’t been put out to competitive bids, contrary to advice from City staff. Ford is quoted in a newspaper as saying the Tuggs lease vote was characterized by “corruption and skullduggery” and implies that Tuggs owner George Foulidis’ campaign donations to then-Councillor Sandra Bussin helped him land the lease extension. Foulidis is suing Ford for $6 million in damages and costs.
Toronto Star Article
The Toronto Star publishes an article that contains allegations that then-Councillor Rob Ford had been asked to stop coaching a high school football team in 2001, following a confrontation (a physical one, according to some of the Star’s sources) with a student player. After the article is published, Ford publicly disputes its truthfulness. The Ford’s campaign will no longer talks to the Star. Once Ford becomes mayor, he continues this policy, and his office doesn’t send press releases to Star reporters. The Star eventually files a complaint with the integrity commissioner.
Improper Donations
The integrity commissioner releases a report in response to a complaint about then-councillor Ford’s methods of raising money for his private charity, the Rob Ford Football Foundation. The commissioner finds that by using his office letterhead to solicit donations for the foundation, Ford had violated City rules that prevent politicians from using office resources and political influence for personal ends. Also in violation of the code of conduct, he had accepted donations from lobbyists, their clients, and a corporation that does business with the City. City council approves the integrity commissioner’s recommended sanction: that Ford be required to pay back the improper corporate and lobbyist donations, at a cost of $3,150. A year later council votes on the matter again. This time, they decide to reverse their earlier decision. Ford is officially absolved of all financial responsibility for his breach of conduct. But he makes a procedural mistake: rather than recuse himself, he speaks and votes on the item. Paul Magder, a Toronto resident, brings a lawsuit against the mayor accusing him of violating the Municipal Conflict of Interest Act.
Failure to Account for Office Spending
Jude MacDonald, a freelance writer and former editor-in-chief of Rabble.ca, files a complaint with the integrity commissioner about the suspiciously low totals on Rob Ford’s office-expense disclosure reports. The mayor, like all members of council, is required to report all office spending (including out-of-pocket spending). Ford’s office expenses in the first quarter of 2011, according to his disclosure records, were just $1,718.46. The integrity commissioner determined that Ford did not breach the code of conduct rules.
Election Finance Compliance Audit
A Globe article points out an interesting feature of financial disclosure filings by Ford’s mayoral campaign: they appear to show that the campaign effectively borrowed $69,722.31 from Doug Ford Holdings, a corporation whose directors include Rob Ford and his brother, Doug. Ford opponents file for a compliance audit of Ford’s campaign finances. The City’s Compliance Audit Committee unanimously agrees that Ford’s election expenses should be audited.
Improper Use of Office Phone Number
On the weekly radio talk show Rob Ford says that he will be attempting to assemble a slate of likeminded council candidates to unseat his opponents on council in the 2014 municipal election after losing the Sheppard subway council vote. He asks any Torontonians interested in running with his blessing to call him, and then he reads out his office phone number. Councillor Josh Matlow threatens to complain to the integrity commissioner that Mayor Ford, by giving out his office phone number, had violated city council’s code of conduct, which forbids members from using office resources for electioneering. Before the integrity commissioner has an opportunity to launch a formal investigation, Ford apologizes publicly.
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