Toronto replaces disgraced mayor, rejects brother's bid for top job

Credit: Reuters/Mark Blinch

1 of 5. Mayor Rob Ford laughs while watching the municipal election results in Toronto, October 27, 2014.

John Tory, a former Progressive Conservative party leader in Ontario, won the election in a closer-than-expected race, according to local media including CBC radio, fighting off a strong challenge by the mayor's brother, Doug Ford.

With about 80 percent of the ballots counted, the city's election website showed Tory with 38.6 percent of the vote, ahead of Doug Ford's 36.0 percent.

But Rob Ford, who made global headlines last year when he admitted to using crack cocaine while in office, was easily elected to the city council in west Toronto ward, a stronghold for the close-knit political family that has a base of supporters dubbed 'Ford Nation'.

Rob Ford withdrew from the mayor's race in September after being diagnosed with a rare and aggressive form of cancer. He threw his support to his brother, a city councillor, who took his place on the mayoral ballot, and ran for city council instead.

Tory, riding on a groundswell of 'anyone but Ford' sentiment, was endorsed by every major Toronto newspaper.

(Editing by Jeffrey Hodgson, Peter Galloway and Ken Wills)

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