Q&A: So you don’t know who your mayor is
It’s nearly a week since the mayor was ousted for violating the municipal conflict-of-interest law, and the latest twist in the confusing saga is that Rob Ford can indeed run in a mayoral byelection. What does this mean for Team Ford, the city and for a potential byelection? Let’s break it down.
Q: Didn’t the city solicitor say Ford could NOT run in a byelection?
A: Yes — she interpreted Justice Charles Hackland’s ruling, which stated Ford couldn’t run again in the “current term,” to mean he couldn’t run again until 2014. But Ford’s advisers disagreed.
Q: So how do we know he can run for sure?
A: The lawyers made a conference call to Hackland on Friday morning for clarification. He agreed to drop the confusing “current term” bit and stated that Ford can run, should a mayoral byelection be called.
Q: So that rules out Doug Ford running for mayor?
A: Probably. Team Ford’s contingency plan if Rob Ford couldn’t run in a byelection was to have Doug Ford run in his place.
Q: But we won’t have a byelection before we know the results of the appeal, right?
A: Right. Council would only consider a byelection if Ford’s appeal is denied. Ford’s lawyer has already set the wheels of an appeal in motion. On Wednesday, he is expected to ask for a stay on the order requiring Ford to vacate the mayoral office by Dec. 10. If that works, Ford will remain in office until his appeal is decided, likely by February. Q: What if the stay isn’t granted? A: Come Dec. 10, the city would be without a mayor. Deputy Mayor Doug Holyday will assume mayoral duties until council can hold an emergency meeting and decide what to do next.
Q: If Ford’s one shot at appeal is denied, what will council do?
A: Within 60 days of the appeal being denied, they’d have to pick between two options: appoint a caretaker mayor until the next election on Oct. 27, 2014, or order a $7-million city-wide mayoral byelection.
Q: Which is more likely?
A: The conservative side of council — including Deputy Mayor Doug Holyday — seems to favour an appointment, as long as it’s someone who will carry on the Ford agenda. The left-leaning councillors could benefit from the change that could come from a byelection.
Q: Could council just appoint Ford as mayor?
A: It’s possible — the Municipal Act only says the council must “appoint a person to fill the vacancy.” Q: What does Ford want to happen? A: Team Ford favours a byelection. Q: How does a byelection work, and when is the earliest it could happen?
A: The process takes about three months, so an election could happen as early as May or June. First, council would pass a bylaw calling a byelection. A nomination deadline is set in the next 60 days. Voting day happens 45 days after the nomination deadline. A normal campaigning period is 300 days.
Q: Who has expressed interest in running?
A: Councillor Shelley Carroll has formally announced her intention to run. Others who have expressed interest include Councillor Denzil Minnan-Wong, Deputy Mayor Doug Holyday (though he favours an appointment) and Councillor Adam Vaughan. Councillor Karen Stintz, the TTC chair, had said she’s interested but won’t run against Ford.
Q: What about non-council members like Olivia Chow, George Smitherman or John Tory?
A: Chow hasn’t ruled it out. No word on whether the other two would throw their hats into the ring.
Q: What happens if a councillor loses in the byelection?
A: Nothing. He or she would return to the ward seat.
Q: What’s the mood on the council floor amid all this?
A: Pretty tense. There were a few heated exchanges on Thursday night at what could be Ford’s final council meeting as mayor. In one, Doug Ford informed two councillors that he’d “whoop both (their) asses.” Later, Councillor Gord Perks mused whether council had hit rock bottom. Q: What dates do I need to know?
A: Dec. 5: Ford’s lawyer applies to stop Ford leaving office.
Dec. 10: The date by which Ford was ordered to leave office.
January: Ford’s appeal heard by Divisional Court. Results of the libel lawsuit against Ford and the audit of his campaign finances are expected around this time, too.
February: Appeal decision expected. May: Earliest a byelection could be held.
Oct. 27, 2014: The next municipal election.