Toronto mayoral race shaping up to be showdown of two former political foes

by Yahoo Canada — November 10, 2009

TORONTO - The race for Toronto's next mayor is shaping up to be a showdown between two political foes who once battled it out in the Ontario legislature.

George Smitherman - Premier Dalton McGuinty's right-hand man and top enforcer - dropped out of cabinet Monday to pursue a bid to be mayor, potentially pitting him against former Progressive Conservative leader John Tory.

Tory, a wealthy and well-connected political operative for former prime ministers Brian Mulroney and Kim Campbell, is mulling another shot at the city's top job after losing to David Miller in 2003.

Smitherman, who had been serving as energy and infrastructure minister, said he's taking the leap because his hometown needs him, not because he couldn't see a way to move up from being McGuinty's No. 2 man.

"Had I chose to remain, I think I have a very good future here," Smitherman said, adding that he's been given "extraordinary opportunities" in both the health and energy portfolios.

"But my city calls out. My city shows that it has a need to restore a sense of power to the office. And I think that I have the skills - a combination of experience, passion, energy and roots in the city that make me well-suited to this challenge."

McGuinty, who vowed for weeks that Smitherman was staying put, shrugged off his departure as well as pointed questions about why a second cabinet star has run out the door in last few months.

His "Jedi mind trick" failed to work on one of his staunchest allies, the premier joked.

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Source:Yahoo Canada