Pressure mounts on Tory to enter Toronto’s mayoral race
Posted July 28, 2010 9:59 am.
This article is more than 5 years old.
TORONTO, Ont. – There are more rumours circulating about former Ontario Progressive Conservative leader John Tory entering the Toronto mayoral race.
Tory told 680News Wednesday morning that he has “nothing new to say” so he doesn’t really want to get drawn into a conversation about the possibilities.
Only hours later after word began to spread late Tuesday, he told 680News political affairs specialist John Stall that there was no truth to the rumour.
If Tory, 56, does decide to run, it will put many of his supporters in awkward positions. Many moved their support to candidates Rocco Rossi and George Smitherman when he made the announcement on January 7 that he would not run for the job.
Since then, Tory has taken up the position at the Toronto City Summit Alliance. He has also moderated a number of mayoral candidate debates.
But, there is a final push by the political establishment to get him into the race.
The Globe and Mail reported that former Ontario premier Mike Harris is encouraging Tory to run and for Rob Ford to withdraw, to clear the way for Tory.
The Toronto Star reported that city councillors, led by Denzil Minnan-Wong and Case Ootes, are urging Tory to “take the chance” because public support is there.
A new poll reveals Tory is way ahead of the current pack of mayoralty candidates and would likely win.
Tory has until September 12, the last day to declare candidacy for mayor or a seat on council, to decide.
