[LINK] "John Tory won't run for mayor"

[rfmcdonald]

The Toronto Star lets us know that John Tory has decided against risking another embarrassingly failed political campaign, this time for mayor of Toronto.

John Tory said Thursday that he won't run again to become Toronto's mayor, choosing instead to "pursue a different course with my life and career."

The former Progressive Conservative leader issued a statement this morning announcing his decision to serve as volunteer chair of the Toronto City Summit Alliance, a position previously held by David Pecaut who died in December.

Before his death, Pecaut had urged Tory to take over the helm of the non-partisan organization, which has been an effective force in city-building efforts that include pushing diversity, investment in research, green initiatives and helping low-income residents.

[. . .]

Since last fall, Tory has been hosting a CFRB radio show on Newstalk 1010, which has freed him up to discuss the issues and concerns of the day. Friends say he has enjoyed the experience. Tory worked briefly as a radio reporter before going onto a successful career in law and business, and has said hosting a radio show was always his dream job.

In a morning interview with CFRB host Bill Carroll Tory said: "I want to find ways to contribute, but you don't need to be a politician to do it."

He said he made his decision on Sunday after a long conversation with his wife, Barbara.

"I would say if they checked the polls that were published...it showed that I had a healthy lead."

In his statement, he added that he looked forward to being an analyst and commentator for the municipal election campaign. "That will be a new experience," he said.

Others wonder whether Tory was truly up for a return to politics, faced with a gruelling 10-month municipal campaign. He suffered a devastating defeat last year when he lost in a provincial by-election in Haliburton-Kawartha Lakes-Brock in Haliburton. That came after other defeats, including the 2007 provincial election, where he lost his own bid to win a seat in Don Valley West.