Local councillor Brad Bradford mentioned as possible mayor candidate

By Alan Shackleton

WITH JOHN Tory’s resignation as Mayor of Toronto, speculation about who might run in a byelection to replace him has put the spotlight on Beaches-East York Councillor Brad Bradford as a potential candidate.

Tory made his announcement on Friday, Feb. 10, night that he would resign and his last day in the office was Friday, Feb. 17.

Tory, 68, said he would resign when details of an affair he had with a 31-year-old former staffer in his office were on the verge of being made public on Friday night by the Toronto Star.

The affair is reported to have taken place during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, and that the woman no longer works for the City of Toronto.

Since his announcement there have been numerous media stories trying to identify possible candidates who might seek to be Toronto’s next mayor.

In response by email to questions from Beach Metro Community News last week, Bradford acknowledged that his name is being mentioned as a potential candidate to run for mayor if the byelection does happen.

He would not say if he would run for mayor.

As of Friday, Feb. 17, that remained his position.

(Beach Metro Community News had an early press deadline of Feb. 17 for this edition due to the Family Day long weekend.)

“I’m hearing from a lot of people who recognize we are at a pivotal moment as a city. I’ve also been receiving a lot of calls from a diverse group of people across the political spectrum talking about the future of Toronto,” said Bradford.

A story first reported last week by CBC News had unnamed backroom members of the Ontario Progressive Conservative Party identifying Bradford as a “centre right” mayoral candidate that they would view as an acceptable replacement to Tory.

Bradford’s mother Valerie is a Liberal MP for Kitchener South-Hespeler.

Beach Metro Community News asked Bradford if he was “comfortable” in a scenario where some might say he was the preferred mayoral candidate of the Ontario Progressive Conservatives and Premier Doug Ford?

Bradford said Toronto’s leadership should be about more than a battle between the left and the right.

“We need energized leadership to rebuild the promise of Toronto. That means making sure politics doesn’t become a tug of war between the left and right,” he said.

“It also means recognizing we have a lot of hard work ahead to make our city more affordable, to get it moving and ensure it’s a safe place for all of us.”

Bradford also explained the process that will take place in Toronto now that Tory has resigned.

“After an official resignation is received, Deputy Mayor (Jennifer) McKelvie will become Head of Council as Acting Mayor. Provincial law also requires that a special election be held for a new Mayor. An official resignation also means Council has 60 days to declare that an election in the city,” he said.

“I know that this announcement has been a source of great uncertainty. I want to provide assurance that the City of Toronto – and all the vital services people depend on – will continue uninterrupted. We are in good hands with Deputy Mayor McKelvie, the City Manager and City Clerks in this interim period.”