Campaign underway to keep ‘Two-Faced Brad’ from winning Toronto mayor’s race

Brad Bradford has yet to declare himself a candidate in the Toronto mayor’s race but there is already a campaign to keep the city councillor from being elected this summer to replace John Tory.

One month before candidates can officially register, a grassroots effort – both inside City Hall and in the Beaches-East York riding he represents – is already underway, questioning his record to date.

Posters titled “Two-Faced Brad” featuring Bradford’s face have been plastered throughout his ward.The same dark image is being circulated on social media with the tag line “Deceive in the East” rather than his choice of words, “Believe in the East”.

“The poster just has facts about his voting record and kind of shows people who he is and what he has supported up until now and let them be informed going forward on how they want to vote,” says Beaches-East York resident Britt Caron, who is one of a number of residents involved in the campaign.

“Bradford kind of came into his role as a councillor on a little bit of a progressive image that he was trying to put out there as the cyclist, as the pro-housing guy,” says Caron. “What we’ve actually seen is that he’s voted quite conservatively on a lot of things in our city.”

Bradford recently revealed he had put together an advisory committee, including a number of political strategists, as he considers a run in the expected June election for mayor.

While the councillor didn’t make himself available to CityNews for an interview, one of those advisors spoke on his behalf.

“I think there is a very online group of people that are negative on Twitter. I think that in the community at large Brad has a track record of success, not only in his ward, but across the city at bringing solutions on housing, on affordability,” said Brian Teefy, Vice-President of StrategyCorp. “It’s part of politics. We’re ready for the debate on ideas and Brad’s going to bring forward some good ideas in the campaign.”

Bradford’s initial message to voters earlier this week was that he’ll continue with former Mayor John Tory’s agenda but to do more, and faster. A message that is not resonating with everyone.

“The City is in decline, things are not going well, and I think we’re hearing this across the political spectrum,” said Caron. “It’s kind of making me feel like everybody is looking for something new and does not want to support a status quo candidate.”

City Council is expected to declare the mayor’s office vacant at its next meeting on March 29 before passing a bylaw requiring a byelection to be held on June 26.

Nominations for candidates will then open on April 3 and advance voting will begin starting June 8.