Mayor John Tory is backing an occasional council ally over a political foe in the Toronto-St. Paulâs race.In a surprise move Friday, Tory, who, during this campaign, has railed against âleft-wingâ council members he called âradicals,â threw his support behind left-wing candidate Joe Mihevc over Josh Matlow.The endorsement comes after Matlow has persistently challenged the mayor on his support of a controversial, one-stop Scarborough subway that will cost more than $3.35 billion dollars when evidence supports a seven-stop light rail line that would serve far more people for far fewer dollars.In a statement, Toryâs campaign said he could âwork with anyone,â but added that he was supporting Mihevc âbecause heâs someone that the mayor knows he can work with at city hall.âHis campaign spokesperson said a robo call from Tory was also going out in the ward Friday afternoon and confirmed it was paid for by Mihevcâs campaign. Matlowâs campaign claimed the news was drawing volunteers to their cause.âWhile they donât agree all the time, they have always found ways to work together,â Toryâs statement said of Mihevc. It noted that the mayor recently named the councillor as the cityâs poverty-reduction advocate.Read more:New boundaries leave like-minded city councillors at odds in TorontoâSt. PaulâsMayor John Tory taps Beaches-East York candidate to be ârelief line championâScarborough candidates convinced Doug Ford will build a longer subwayMihevc characterized Toryâs support as one of several endorsements heâs received, including one from a member of Toryâs executive Ana Bailao and another from his TTC chair, Josh Colle.âIâm delighted for it and look forward to whatever the election brings,â said Mihevc. The longtime councillor said he will not be endorsing a mayoral candidate and that no promises were made i ...
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