Mammoliti wants Mayor Ford reappointed if appeal fails

Coun. Giorgio Mammoliti says he will move to reappoint Mayor Rob Ford if a Divisional Court panel rejects Ford’s appeal he is thrown out of office.

“We have an agenda in this city,” Mammoliti told reporters on Thursday. “That agenda needs to continue. This mayor was elected with that agenda and whether the courts have determined to oust him or not, it’s $3,000.”

“I think there’s reason to reappoint him. He has said sorry to those that have been involved.”

In November, an Ontario Superior Court judge ordered Ford removed as mayor for violating the Municipal Conflict of Interest Act.  Last February, he took part in a council vote on whether he should repay $3,150 raised from lobbyists for his private football foundation using city resources.

The ruling was put on hold pending the Divisional Court decision, which will come down at 10:30 a.m. Friday.

If Ford loses his appeal, council has 60 days to decide if it wants to appoint an interim mayor or hold a byelection.

Political analyst Alejandra Bravo told CityNews said once the case was brought to court, the judge had little choice but to oust Ford.

“However harsh you find the penalty of removing the mayor from office, he clearly had a conflict of interest under the legislation,” she said.

“The judges might consider that this is really detrimental to democracy. You have a duly-elected official removed over something like this —it’s not good for the city. But … they could be swayed by the fact that it’s OK, he can be reappointed mayor by council or he could win his seat back in a byelection.

“If I were placing a bet, I’d say that Rob Ford loses his appeal. He’s removed from office.”

At the news conference on Thursday, Mammoliti also alluded to a conspiracy among councillors, lawyers and other Toronto citizens.

He said he left the executive committee to investigate “activity within city hall” which he said targeted him and other councillors with the aim of doing “personal damage.”

He alleged wire-tapping, secret meetings and people being followed by private investigators and said once he had evidence, he would go to police.

“There’s absolutely [a conspiracy] and I just need to prove it,” he said.

“I promise you this: if we can prove what we think we’re going to prove, there are going to be some councillors in this council that have a lot more to worry about than Mayor Ford.”

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