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Rob Ford, troubled and tempestuous Toronto mayor, dies at 46 Rob Ford, troubled and tempestuous Toronto mayor, dies at 46
(about 1 hour later)
Rob Ford, the onetime populist mayor of Toronto whose tax-cutting agenda was overshadowed by a tempestuous personal life that made him an international butt of ridicule, as he made intemperate comments on racial and sexual matters and who, most notoriously, was caught on tape smoking crack cocaine, died March 22 at a Toronto hospital. He was 46.Rob Ford, the onetime populist mayor of Toronto whose tax-cutting agenda was overshadowed by a tempestuous personal life that made him an international butt of ridicule, as he made intemperate comments on racial and sexual matters and who, most notoriously, was caught on tape smoking crack cocaine, died March 22 at a Toronto hospital. He was 46.
His family confirmed the death to news outlets. He had cancer, first diagnosed in 2014.His family confirmed the death to news outlets. He had cancer, first diagnosed in 2014.
Mr. Ford, who was a member of a politically prominent, if pugnacious, family, served on the Toronto city council for a decade before being elected mayor in 2010. He won by historic margins, promising tax relief, budget cutting and a general promise to knock the city’s political elite off its pedestal. Mr. Ford, who was a member of a politically prominent, if pugnacious, family, served on the Toronto city council for a decade before being elected mayor in 2010. He won the nonpartisan race by historic margins, promising tax relief, budget cutting and a general promise to knock the city’s political elite off its pedestal.
In short order, Mr. Ford became the grotesquely obese face of Toronto. The Canadian press openly called him “the world’s most infamous mayor,” who belied the country’s long history of sedate, well-mannered leaders. Because of his conservative policies and personal proclivities, he may have been the only political figure in North America who invited comparisons to Sarah Palin, the former Alaska governor and vice presidential contender, and the late Washington mayor Marion Barry. In short order, Mr. Ford became the public face of Toronto. His outsized presence, in every sense, became the subject of comment and comedy. The Canadian press openly called him “the world’s most infamous mayor,” who belied the country’s long history of sedate, well-mannered leaders.
Along with his equally ambitious brother, Doug, a city council member, Mr. Ford was a force in Toronto politics, speaking for a constituency of mostly white suburbanites who felt left behind by social change. Because of his conservative policies and personal proclivities, he may have been the only political figure in North America who invited comparisons to Sarah Palin, the former Alaska governor and vice presidential contender, and the late Washington mayor Marion Barry.
He mocked what he saw as an elitist agenda that favored bicyclists, immigrants, recycling and other policies he viewed as undermining a traditional suburban way of life. Along with his equally ambitious brother, Doug Ford Jr., a city council member, Mr. Ford was a longtime force in Toronto politics, speaking for a constituency of mostly white suburbanites who felt left behind by social change. He mocked what he saw as an elitist agenda that favored bicyclists, immigrants, recycling and other policies he viewed as undermining a traditional suburban way of life.
From the beginning of his term as mayor, Mr. Ford’s actions came under scrutiny. It turned out he was frequently taking off time from work to help coach a high school football team — a particular passion.From the beginning of his term as mayor, Mr. Ford’s actions came under scrutiny. It turned out he was frequently taking off time from work to help coach a high school football team — a particular passion.
Of far deeper concern was his heavy drinking. Members of his staff reported that he was intoxicated during office hours. Of far deeper concern were his heavy drinking and drug use. Members of his staff reported that he was intoxicated during office hours.
“I am not an alcoholic, I am not a drug addict,” Mr. Ford insisted, even as a long-rumored video showing him smoking crack was made public in 2013. He argued that he was the victim of an overzealous news media and a vindictive Toronto police chief.“I am not an alcoholic, I am not a drug addict,” Mr. Ford insisted, even as a long-rumored video showing him smoking crack was made public in 2013. He argued that he was the victim of an overzealous news media and a vindictive Toronto police chief.
The mayor sought to divert attention from his troubles by joining his equally corpulent brother Doug in a weight-loss challenge, but Mr. Ford had to quit the program after falling off an industrial-size scale, spraining his ankle. At one point, he joined his brother Doug in a weight-loss challenge, but Mr. Ford had to abandon the program after falling off an industrial-size scale, spraining his ankle.
The antics — comical, embarrassing or tragic — never seemed to end. The antics — whether seen as comical, embarrassing or tragic — never seemed to end.
He went on a public relations tour ostensibly to rebuild his reputation, appearing on sports call-in shows throughout North America and, in 2014, on ABC’s late-night show “Jimmy Kimmel Live.” After months of denying that he had a problem with substance abuse, Mr. Ford later admitted that he had tried crack during a “drunken stupor.”
He sought to rebuild his reputation as a plain-speaking man of the people and often appeared on sports call-in shows throughout North America to discuss football. He went on ABC’s late-night show “Jimmy Kimmel Live” in 2014.
“If you are operating under the impression that local politics are boring, you probably don’t live in Toronto,” Kimmel said, by way of introduction. “Our first guest tonight has tripped, bumped, danced, argued and smoked his way into our national consciousness.”“If you are operating under the impression that local politics are boring, you probably don’t live in Toronto,” Kimmel said, by way of introduction. “Our first guest tonight has tripped, bumped, danced, argued and smoked his way into our national consciousness.”
In his defense, Mr. Ford called himself a “normal, average, hard-working politician that’s real.”In his defense, Mr. Ford called himself a “normal, average, hard-working politician that’s real.”
“You are not the average politician, my friend,” Kimmel replied.“You are not the average politician, my friend,” Kimmel replied.
Once the crack video surfaced, investigators drew links with Somali drug gangs in Toronto, further darkening Mr. Ford’s reputation. He lost his cellphone during one alleged crack binge, and a person seen with the mayor in the video was later found killed.Once the crack video surfaced, investigators drew links with Somali drug gangs in Toronto, further darkening Mr. Ford’s reputation. He lost his cellphone during one alleged crack binge, and a person seen with the mayor in the video was later found killed.
Mr. Ford said he entered rehabilitation, but he had frequent relapses and was occasionally seen in an obviously inebriated state.Mr. Ford said he entered rehabilitation, but he had frequent relapses and was occasionally seen in an obviously inebriated state.
Other embarrassing episodes surfaced as well, including racially insensitive comments about Asians and Jamaicans, and sexually crude comments about women. During one exchange in a Toronto council meeting, Mr. Ford charged from his seat toward the rostrum, flattening a female council member en route.Other embarrassing episodes surfaced as well, including racially insensitive comments about Asians and Jamaicans, and sexually crude comments about women. During one exchange in a Toronto council meeting, Mr. Ford charged from his seat toward the rostrum, flattening a female council member en route.
People in the chamber began chanting, “Shame, shame, shame.’’People in the chamber began chanting, “Shame, shame, shame.’’
To their dismay, political leaders and voters had no formal mechanism to recall him from office. But the Toronto city council took action to reduce his budget and his mayoral authority, deferring many of duties to the deputy mayor. In 2014, when Mr. Ford was planning to run for re-election, he was diagnosed with a form of soft-tissue cancer.To their dismay, political leaders and voters had no formal mechanism to recall him from office. But the Toronto city council took action to reduce his budget and his mayoral authority, deferring many of duties to the deputy mayor. In 2014, when Mr. Ford was planning to run for re-election, he was diagnosed with a form of soft-tissue cancer.
Seeking treatment, he withdrew from the mayor’s race and ran successfully for city council representing his suburban stronghold of Etobicoke. His brother Doug replaced him as mayor candidate but he lost to John Tory, a longtime political figure.Seeking treatment, he withdrew from the mayor’s race and ran successfully for city council representing his suburban stronghold of Etobicoke. His brother Doug replaced him as mayor candidate but he lost to John Tory, a longtime political figure.
Robert Bruce Ford was born May 28, 1969, in Toronto. His father was a member of the Canadian parliament and was also the head of a prosperous family printing and labeling business, with branches in Canada and the United States. Robert Bruce Ford was born May 28, 1969, in Toronto. His father was a member of the provincial parliament of Ontario and was also the head of a prosperous family printing and labeling business, with branches in Canada and the United States.
Mr. Ford attended Carleton University in Ottawa but dropped out to enter the family business.Mr. Ford attended Carleton University in Ottawa but dropped out to enter the family business.
Survivors include his wife, the former Renata Brejniak; two children; and his brother. A complete list of survivors was not immediately known. Survivors include his wife, the former Renata Brejniak; his mother, Ruth Diane Ford; two children; two brothers; and a sister.
Mr. Ford remained unrepentant throughout his four years as mayor. “If I have a problem,” he said in 2013, “I’d be the first one to say I’m not fit to run the city.” Mr. Ford remained unrepentant about his personal life during his four years as mayor. “If I have a problem,” he said in 2013, “I’d be the first one to say I’m not fit to run the city.”
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