So far I have met only a few of the candidates to replace Mayor David Miller, the top two, Controller Rob Ford and former Deputy Ontario Premier George Smitherman.
Ford came up from a standing start, after he learned from a poll that he had a chance to win the mayorality. He probably shocked even himself with that since he was a backbencher, a minority in a group of ten Conservatives, out of left of centre councillors. Ford's platform, which he stresses at every opportunity, is to cut government spending. In that he is a poster boy since doesn't take any expense allowance himself. Ford is now ten percentage points ahead of his next highest rival, Smitherman.
Smitherman came from the provincial government, where he was the premiere's attack dog, and was leading the pack until Ford came on the scene and is now left in the dust. I have heard him talk three times and still do not know what he stands for. During the second meeting he talked at length running down Ford.
