It's so amusing to read all the right-wing pundits this morning saying how Tory must continue to kowtow to those who voted for Ford. Funny, I don't recall any of them saying anything remotely similar when Rob Ford's nearest opponent captured an even greater share of the vote than his brother Doug did this time around.John Tory has won the election to be Toronto's next mayor — ending the often gruelling, hotly contested race for the city's top job and the tenure of outgoing mayor Rob Ford.
Shortly after 11 p.m. ET, Tory was shown winning some 394,900 votes, or 40.3 per cent — followed by Doug Ford with 330,600 and Olivia Chow with 227,000.
Tory told a crowd of cheering supporters Monday night he would end the "division that has paralyzed City Hall."
"Together, like never before, we now begin building Toronto the great," Tory said, adding he will lead the city "not left, not right, but forward."
"We are going to build a strong, inclusive city of opportunity from Etobicoke to Scarborough and from North York right to the waterfront."
The 60-year-old longtime political figure will be Toronto's 65th mayor.
Tory's support was concentrated close to the city centre, while Ford fared better in suburban Etobicoke and Scarborough. Tory's share of the vote is less than the 47.1 per cent Rob Ford drew when he won the 2010 election, but well ahead of Tory's 38 per cent when he lost to David Miller in 2003.
Voter turnout set a new record with an impressive 64.3 per cent — or 974,363 votes — up from the previous record of 50.6 per cent in 2010.
And Rob Ford may or may not be alive to fulfill his promise to run in 2018, but even if he does, in what will probably be a two-way race he will be pummelled.
At least I don't have to sell my condo and get the hell out of town, which a Ford victory would have forced me to do if I wanted to maintain my sanity.
