Toronto mayoral election George Smitherman

on september 9, 2009, smitherman suggested running mayor of toronto in upcoming 2010 mayoral election. emphasized official announcements not come before unofficial campaign season municipally begins in new year .

on november 8, smitherman announced resignation provincial cabinet in order run mayor. remained in legislature backbench mpp until january 4, 2010.

in april 2010, smitherman s campaign manager, jeff bangs, resigned , replaced bruce davis, chair of toronto district school board , veteran of local politics.

on august 21, 2010, ontario liberal party began distributing pamphlets, listing smitherman s provincial record , endorsements, 75,000 identified liberal voters. partisan endorsement led speculation smitherman s political fortunes connected of liberal provincial government. several other mayoral candidates criticized premier mcguinty , provincial liberals jumping race.

smitherman admitted telling volunteer working rival rocco rossi screw off . smitherman claims set rossi s campaign , said young woman tried hand him paper questioning work youth before debate.

smitherman s campaign has been criticized swaying first left , right. after labour day, made fiscal promises freeze property taxes year , cut down on reckless spending.

following results of nanos research poll, released on september 19, smitherman made following statement polling ve seen tells if election held now, rob ford our mayor, smitherman said. provokes distaste , reinforces need work harder values of our city. poll put ford s level of support @ 45.8% among decided voters. smitherman held 21.3%, joe pantalone 16.8%, rocco rossi stood @ 9.7% , sarah thomson @ 6.4%. smitherman vowed lead anybody-but-ford movement , encouraged strategic voting.

in october, smitherman picked support. sarah thomson dropped out , endorsed smitherman. smitherman , staff pressing of rocco rossi’s key supporters switch; rossi dropped out due being unable improve poll numbers did not endorse other candidates. former toronto (pre-amalgamation) mayors david crombie , art eggleton endorsed smitherman. several left-leaning councilors allies of joe pantalone, joe mihevc, adam vaughan, , pam mcconnell, decided smitherman s campaign instead. smitherman urged strategic voting , repeatedly asserted, vote joe pantalone vote rob ford. smitherman left voice-mail outgoing mayor david miller, hoping miller persuade pantalone bow out, miller never returned call (back in 2003, barbara hall s campaign used back-channel efforts discourage miller s run mayor) , gave public endorsement of pantalone instead. following results of october 18 angus reid public opinion poll, smitherman , ford practically tied first place, ford @ 41% , smitherman @ 40%.

on election day, smitherman finished second 35.6% of vote compared ford won 47.1%.