What the hell just happened?! A blow-by-blow of the Rob Ford mayoralty’s craziest morning yet
At the start of the day, there were two Fords running for two different municipal offices. Now, after a frantic few hours of some of the most dramatic paperwork action city hall has ever seen, there are three Fords on various ballots, and none of them are running for what they used to be running for. Somehow, during all of this, almost as an afterthought, Rob Ford‘s unbelievable fiasco of a mayoralty gained a definite expiration date.
How did all of this happen? Here, our attempt to put the day’s baffling series of events in chronological order.
11:00 a.m. – Doug Ford arrives at Mount Sinai Hospital, where the mayor was transferred on Thursday afternoon for treatment and tests related to his tumour diagnosis. Doug doesn’t say anything of note to the reporters who are there waiting for him.
Doug Ford was silent when asked about the future of his brother's mayoral campaign as he walked into Mt Sinai Hospital
— Olivia Carville (@livcarville) September 12, 2014
11:00 a.m. (also) — The Toronto Sun publishes an article in which Joe Warmington hints at what’s about to unfold. In the piece, Warmington quotes Doug nixing the idea of putting his name on the mayoral ballot alongside Rob’s, because “it would be too confusing.” The implication is clear: if Rob withdraws, Doug is in.
12:35 p.m. — Doug arrives at city hall from Mount Sinai. With him are Dan Jacobs, the mayor’s chief of staff; Jeff Silverstein, the mayor’s campaign spokesperson; and Michael Ford, the 20-year-old Ford nephew who is running for Rob’s old council seat in Ward 2.
Jeff Silverstein, Mike Ford, Dan Jacobs enter City Hall. Silverstein has green folder. "No comment!" They run past elections office.
— Jonathan Goldsbie (@goldsbie) September 12, 2014
12:50 p.m. — Jeff Silverstein enters city hall’s elections office with some papers in his hand. He files them with a clerk, and reporters quickly figure out what’s happening: Rob has officially withdrawn from the mayoral race, meaning he won’t appear on the ballot and will definitely, barring an act of God, be leaving office in two months so the next mayor can take over. Michael, it turns out, is likewise removing himself from the ballot in Ward 2. At the same time, Silverstein attempts to register Doug, who wasn’t previously running for any office, as a mayoral candidate.
Silverstein is here submitting paperwork. Withdrawing Rob Ford's name from the race and entering Doug. pic.twitter.com/iEFkWokg8n
— Jennifer Pagliaro (@jpags) September 12, 2014
1:00 p.m. — But it turns out there’s a problem with Doug’s paperwork, which is interesting, because the final deadline for nominations happens to be at 2 p.m. The Fords only have an hour to resolve the problem.
Doug Ford's name not officially on the ballot for mayor. Appears trouble is with his papers, for which they needed an oath commissioned.
— Jennifer Pagliaro (@jpags) September 12, 2014
1:15 p.m. — After a few minutes during which it seems possible that the 2014 election will go forward with no Fords on any ballots, the clerk finally deems Doug’s paperwork acceptable, making him an official mayoral candidate.
BREAKING Doug Ford now running for mayor of Toronto #TOpoli #robford pic.twitter.com/GXXBURsoaS
— Don Peat (@reporterdonpeat) September 12, 2014
1:25 p.m. — Reporters learn that Rob has registered to run in Ward 2, essentially as a replacement for his nephew Michael.
BREAKING: Rob Ford is running for his old council seat in Ward 2 #sl
— Steven D'Souza (@cbcsteve) September 12, 2014
1:30 p.m. – Doug Ford gets his first endorsement. It comes from councillor Giorgio Mammoliti, a notorious oddball who is currently fighting for his political life in Ward 7 after being caught taking a whole bunch of inappropriate payments from lobbyists.
Now it's real: "The Mammoliti camp is formally endorsing Doug," Giorgio Mammoliti says in a call to CP24.
— Daniel Dale (@ddale8) September 12, 2014
1:30 p.m. — Rob Ford issues a written statement in which he tries to explain why he’s healthy enough to run for council, but not for the mayoralty (“while I’m unable to commit to the heavy schedule required for a Mayoral candidate I will not turn my back on Ward 2”). He throws his support behind Doug, a move he says will ensure that “all we’ve accomplished together isn’t washed away.”
1:45 p.m. — And then reporters learn that Michael has registered to run for school board trustee, meaning at the end of the day there will actually be one more Ford running for office than there was at the start. The Ford shuffle is complete.
![](http://www.facebook.com/sharer.php?u=https://torontolife.com/city/day-rob-fords-mayoralty-finally-gained-expiration-date-timeline/&title=What the hell just happened?! A blow-by-blow of the Rob Ford mayoralty’s craziest morning yet&picture=https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/20140912fordmayor-624x395.jpg&description=[caption id="attachment_291277" align="aligncenter" width="656"] Some of the candidates officially running for mayor as of 2 p.m. today. Out: Rob Ford. In: Doug.[/caption]
At the start of the day, there were two Fords running for two different municipal offices. Now, after a frantic few hours of some of the most dramatic paperwork action city hall has ever seen, there are three Fords on various ballots, and none of them are running for what they used to be running for. Somehow, during all of this, almost as an afterthought, Rob Ford's unbelievable fiasco of a mayoralty gained a definite expiration date.
How did all of this happen? Here, our attempt to put the day's baffling series of events in chronological order.
11:00 a.m. – Doug Ford arrives at Mount Sinai Hospital, where the mayor was transferred on Thursday afternoon for treatment and tests related to his tumour diagnosis. Doug doesn't say anything of note to the reporters who are there waiting for him.
https://twitter.com/livcarville/status/510444207941894144
11:00 a.m. (also) — The Toronto Sun publishes an article in which Joe Warmington hints at what's about to unfold. In the piece, Warmington quotes Doug nixing the idea of putting his name on the mayoral ballot alongside Rob's, because "it would be too confusing." The implication is clear: if Rob withdraws, Doug is in.
12:35 p.m. — Doug arrives at city hall from Mount Sinai. With him are Dan Jacobs, the mayor's chief of staff; Jeff Silverstein, the mayor's campaign spokesperson; and Michael Ford, the 20-year-old Ford nephew who is running for Rob's old council seat in Ward 2.
https://twitter.com/goldsbie/status/510467819239374848
12:50 p.m. — Jeff Silverstein enters city hall's elections office with some papers in his hand. He files them with a clerk, and reporters quickly figure out what's happening: Rob has officially withdrawn from the mayoral race, meaning he won't appear on the ballot and will definitely, barring an act of God, be leaving office in two months so the next mayor can take over. Michael, it turns out, is likewise removing himself from the ballot in Ward 2. At the same time, Silverstein attempts to register Doug, who wasn't previously running for any office, as a mayoral candidate.
https://twitter.com/jpags/status/510470393749315584
1:00 p.m. — But it turns out there's a problem with Doug's paperwork, which is interesting, because the final deadline for nominations happens to be at 2 p.m. The Fords only have an hour to resolve the problem.
https://twitter.com/jpags/status/510474923803164672
1:15 p.m. — After a few minutes during which it seems possible that the 2014 election will go forward with no Fords on any ballots, the clerk finally deems Doug's paperwork acceptable, making him an official mayoral candidate.
https://twitter.com/reporterdonpeat/status/510477111023656960
1:25 p.m. — Reporters learn that Rob has registered to run in Ward 2, essentially as a replacement for his nephew Michael.
https://twitter.com/cbcsteve/status/510480034902310912
1:30 p.m. – Doug Ford gets his first endorsement. It comes from councillor Giorgio Mammoliti, a notorious oddball who is currently fighting for his political life in Ward 7 after being caught taking a whole bunch of inappropriate payments from lobbyists.
https://twitter.com/ddale8/status/510480549652463616
1:30 p.m. — Rob Ford issues a written statement in which he tries to explain why he's healthy enough to run for council, but not for the mayoralty ("while I'm unable to commit to the heavy schedule required for a Mayoral candidate I will not turn my back on Ward 2”). He throws his support behind Doug, a move he says will ensure that "all we've accomplished together isn't washed away."
1:45 p.m. — And then reporters learn that Michael has registered to run for school board trustee, meaning at the end of the day there will actually be one more Ford running for office than there was at the start. The Ford shuffle is complete.){kind=link}
What accomplishments? All you’ve done, Rob, is treat Toronto as your toy. That’s it. No more lying to us, please.
Hopefully of letting Doug talk trash to the press, while keeping Rob “clean” of any binding policy statements will come back to bite them. Does *anyone* really want to vote for Mr Monorail?
A few things that stand out: Rob was reported by the notary to be “disoriented” at the hospital when all the switcheroos were happening. Doug Ford’s candidacy speech was backed up by *almost* all of the Ford family (anybody related to Rob was absent), with mamma prominent. The “heartfelt letter” was typed and looks like it was written by a Ford communications person (contents dictated by who?) I wonder how happy this family is that a losing campaign has now been transitioned to a better prospect with a short timeline? We’ve traded in the affable clown for the narsty puppet string puller….. stay tuned for what happens next in this crazy, awful ride!
The mayoralty wrestling tag team of Rob & Doug were on the ropes. “User” (allegedly) crawled over to tag, and “dealer” (allegedly) surprised everyone and came in fresh and eager for a fight.
Will the “referee” (the voters) see the tricks this team uses, or will the “referee” turn a blind eye and give their opponents a kick in the pants. Look at the tapes, ref!!
The next 100 days before Christmas set the course of the 21st century. Read it here, and weep: http://ow.ly/BtMeP The Fords are invoking “Shock Doctrine” playbook as a smokescreen to eat up mainstream media resources and divert civic attention from the lockstep of 1) nefarious international trade deals like FIPA and 2) the tell-all trial of Senator MIke Duffy.
Toronto City Halls needs a mayor who is willing to listen, hard working, honest, can work with others and respected…….John Tory and Olivia Chow can and will do the job…..
To vote for anyone else will put the city threw another 4 years of unfinished and over looked projects……the public needs things done now…… not in another 4 years…..
Good Luck to John Tory……
Good Luck to Olivia Chow……
Unless the voters give them the chance……no one will ever know what they can do…….
One would wounder……why was Renata Ford not with the close Ford Family when Doug made the announcement that he was running for Toronto mayor, the other evening out side Diane Fords home ?
To this day in time, I have yet seen the Ford Family give Renata Ford any support or help threw any of this or anything else she has had to cope with…….
Doug Ford has made several remarks against Renata on open mike and I believe them to be rude and uncalled for, so this makes me think she is really only a Ford in name and nothing more…………….
Trade out the clown for the bully? Come on Toronto, don’t be played as fools twice!
Too bad Dave Socknacki dropped out. He was the one with a solid platform. Toronto needs a nerd mayor.
We agree Dave Socknacki would have been a good run…….maybe things would have been different if there was an endless amount of money like some others running for the mayors office.