Rob Ford

Rob Ford (born 1969) is a Toronto city councillor representing one of the two Etobicoke North wards. Ford is the son of former MPP Doug Ford. He was first elected to city council in the 2000 Toronto election when he ousted incumbent Elizabeth Brown. A staunch neoconservative he was one of the council's few strident defenders of Mike Harris and a continued advocate for deep spending cuts. He made headlines by spending virtual nothing on his office expenses while other councillors chalked up ten of thousands of dollars worth. He was a strong supporter of Jim Flaherty in the 2002 Tory leadership race. Outside of council he serves as the successful coach of the Newtonbrook Secondary football team.

Controversy erupted when in the debate over the 2002 budget several councillors heard Ford call fellow councillor George Mammoliti "Gino boy." Mammoliti filed a complaint for the ethnic slur. It was one of several heated and insult filled exchanges Ford participated in most with Mammoliti, who represents a neighbouring ward. In the 2003 Toronto election Ford was challenged by Mammoliti's son Michael Mammoliti, but was reelected by a large margin.

External links

• City biography