Doug & Karla Ford discuss life on campaign trail

Toronto mayoral candidate Doug Ford, aside from his brother Rob, could be the most polarizing politician in this city.

And his wife Karla? She’s never done an interview until now.

CityNews reporter Avery Haines has the first in a series of “at-home interviews” with the top mayoral candidates about life on the campaign trail.

The Fords were the first to respond and they talked about everything from Karla’s Jewish bloodlines to Doug’s decision to run for mayor after his ailing brother Rob dropped out of the mayoral race on Sept. 12. He also said not everyone in his family was initially on board.

On her religious background, Karla said, “My mother’s family has Jewish bloodlines. I don’t practice Judaism. I never have. And as far as I know maybe my great-grandmother she did. But it was always kept hush hush. We feared persecution.”

Doug Ford said “a couple” of his daughters said “Don’t do it. You don’t need it. But then they “hopped on board, literally two hours before the [Sept. 12 nomination] deadline.”

If elected, Ford’s wife believes it won’t be the same media frenzy that Rob Ford has generated.

“Doug will be different. There will be maybe the odd cameraman out. But I don’t think there’s going to be a sensational story — that they’re going to have to be hunting him down,” she said.

While running for office, Doug Ford has been called all sorts of names, “nasty racist” “trash,” “turkey” and  “bully,” but his wife describes him as a “dancing dynamo,” an “excellent provider,” and a “husband and loving father.”

“He’s like a big teddy bear. He’s a great father. He gets his chocolate milk every night,” she said.

Click on the above video to watch the full interview.