Mammoliti in Ward 7 standoff, poll suggests

Rookie Mike Ford looks strong in Etobicoke North

A Forum Research poll of five interesting races for Toronto City Council shows veteran politician Giorgio Mammoliti remains in a close battle.

Mammoliti, who has represented Ward 7, York West, on council since 2000, is locked in a virtual tie with challenger Nick DiNizio.

The interactive voice response poll conducted Sept. 6-9 of 214 residents showed the controversial councillor had the support of 37 per cent of voters, while 33 per cent backed DiNizio.

The results were in line with a July 23 poll of 191 residents that showed Mammoliti’s support at 29 per cent versus 27 per cent for DiNizio.

Forum cautioned that the sample size is small. The margin of error in the latest survey is plus or minus 7 percentage points.

The pollster found that while 85 per cent of residents know of Mammoliti, his approval rating stands at only 50 per cent.

Mammoliti was recently found to have violated council’s rules on accepting gifts and benefits connected with the performance of his duties.

City council voted 37-2 in July to deny Mammoliti his salary for three months — about $26,000 — after a fundraiser netted $80,000.

The salary hit is the most severe penalty council has ever imposed as a result of an investigation by the integrity commissioner, and it is the maximum sanction at the city’s disposal under a provincial law that has been criticized as inadequate.

Mammoliti maintains he did nothing wrong.

Integrity commissioner Janet Leiper found he took $31,000 from lobbyists or clients of lobbyists who joined his relatives at the $500-a-plate fundraiser in Woodbridge in May 2013.

Forum also looked at four other races among the 44 council seats up for grabs in the Oct. 27 election.

Mike Ford, a nephew of Mayor Rob Ford and Councillor Doug Ford, is leading in his attempt to ensure a Ford continues to represent Ward 2, Etobicoke North.

The Rexdale ward is now held by Doug Ford, who isn’t running for reelection, and was previously Rob Ford’s turf before he was elected mayor in 2010.

Forum said Michael Ford, with 50 per cent support, leads Andray Domise, who enjoys the backing of 30 per cent of the voters. (That result is based on a poll of 396 residents, with a margin of error of plus or minus 5 points.)

In Ward 30, Toronto-Danforth, incumbent Paula Fletcher enjoys a solid lead, with 56 per cent of 407 voters polled backing her, compared with18 per cent for Liz West and 13 per cent for Jane Farrow.

Mammoliti was recently found to have violated council’s rules on accepting gifts connected with the performance of his duties

Forum found Fletcher is very well known and has a relatively high approval rating at 68 per cent among the 407 residents polled; the margin of error is 5 points.

Meanwhile, the pollster says Mary-Margaret McMahon has a “lock” on Ward 32, Beaches—East York, which she has held since 2010. McMahon’s support is solid at 60 per cent. The poll sampled 546 residents, with a margin of error of plus or minus 4 points.

Former councillor Sandra Bussin is attempting a comeback in Ward 32, but the poll has her well behind McMahon at 21 per cent.

Bussin is well known but suffers from a low 33-per-cent approval rating.

Voters in the downtown ward previously held by Adam Vaughan are backing Joe Cressy, who earlier this year was the NDP candidate in the federal byelection won by Vaughan for the Liberals.

Cressy’s decision to enter the municipal race is paying off, with Forum finding he has 47 per cent support while other candidates are stuck in single digits. Forum polled 292 residents; the margin of error is 6 points.