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rfmcdonaldThis is welcome news. Toronto Mayor David Miller has been a serious disappointment, if only because he doesn't seem to have achieved very much of his grand platform in the six years that he's been mayor, long-term goals though they may be. He's the type of politician, I think, who means well, but, well.
John Tory, it should be noted, is the former Ontario Progressive Conservative leader most famous for never quite achieving a sustainable political career, most recently with his very bad suggestion of introducing public funding for religious schools in the 2007 elections and failing to be reelected in a safe seat. George Smitherman, in contrast, actually has an independently sustainable career.
Deputy premier George Smitherman is all but ready to announce he will run for mayor of Toronto, sources close to the politician say.
"It's a lock, he's running," one source confirmed this week.
Another Smitherman operative, ready to build a campaign team, says "a rainbow of political stripes" is urging Smitherman to take on the flagging Mayor David Miller in next year's elections.
"The voices he's hearing are from serious political types," the source said. "A serious politician is not able to disregard these voices. You have to give it a strong, hard look. It's his decision to make and he's an astute politician."
[. . .]
The municipal election is not until November 2010. But serious candidates usually declare officially on or near Jan. 1, the day they can start raising funds.
Backers say Smitherman needs to announce soon to get a jump on John Tory, another high-profile name under mayoral watch. Tory lost a close race to Miller in 2003 and was provincial Conservative leader from 2004 until earlier this year.
But both men have indicated they are in close contact and have a deal that only one will run against Miller.
Another source says both sides understand that "the winning formula requires we don't have a crowded field."
"If someone is going to challenge (Miller), it has to be one person," Tory told the Star. "This will give the voter a clearer choice. It's a far more preferable setting of the table for the voters."
[. . .]
What is clear is that Miller's performance during the 39-day municipal strike has emboldened challengers and created a feeding frenzy among the political class. Backers for both Tory and Smitherman report huge interest in finding an alternative to Miller. Often, would-be supporters cross political lines to queue up behind Liberal Smitherman and Conservative Tory.
John Tory, it should be noted, is the former Ontario Progressive Conservative leader most famous for never quite achieving a sustainable political career, most recently with his very bad suggestion of introducing public funding for religious schools in the 2007 elections and failing to be reelected in a safe seat. George Smitherman, in contrast, actually has an independently sustainable career.
