‘I’m the only one’: Mark Saunders bills himself as only alternative to Olivia Chow

The final push in the campaign for Toronto mayor has started and one candidate has come forth with an all-out effort to keep one of their opponents from being elected.

Complete with a slogan, signs and even a brand new website, Mark Saunders has shifted his focus to try and convince voters he’s the only alternative to front-runner Olivia Chow.

“It is time to choose who can stop Olivia Chow. The fact is that I’m the only one,” said the former police chief, who has been running a distant third in at least one poll throughout the race.

The ‘Stop Chow’ website claims that the former city councillor and MP would defund the police and raise taxes by 25 per cent.

Chow has said there would be a “modest” increase in property taxes but has yet to be pinned down to an exact number when asked.

Saunders goes on to say that a vote for any other candidate is a vote for Olivia Chow.

“I invite all the candidates to join me in this campaign. I am making the united call asking everyone to work together to stop Olivia Chow,” he said to a round of applause on Thursday.

But his plea to the rest of his competitors appears to be a non-starter at this point.

“Mark Saunders can point a finger at Olivia Chow and Olivia Chow can point a finger at Mark Saunders,” said Coun. Josh Matlow. “My focus is Ford. My focus is toward Queen’s Park.”

“I don’t believe that Mark Saunders is it. I don’t believe that he is offering clear solutions to the people of Toronto,” said former MPP Mitzie Hunter. “It’s not the type of leadership that we need in our city. That’s risky.”

“You know I had hundreds of people standing with me and behind me at a rally yesterday. So I know that I have the momentum while he has a website,” countered former Coun. Ana Bailao.

“I saw that website. It looked pretty half baked,” said Coun. Brad Bradford. “This looks like a campaign that’s desperate to try and show some momentum.”

“I guess this is a tactic you do when you’re maybe a little desperate,” added Anthony Furey. “But, you know, I’m in it until the end.”

For her part, Chow said she wished the focus of the campaign was on what she called the “most important issue at hand” – affordable housing and making life more affordable.

Advance voting for the byelection opened on Thursday with 50 locations throughout the city, two in each ward. Eligible voters can vote at any location because there is only one ballot for mayor and the byelection doesn’t involve electing councillors or trustees in a specific ward.

Election day is set for June 26.