Michael Ford (politician)
| Michael Douglas Ford | |
|---|---|
| Toronto City Councillor for Etobicoke North (Ward 2) | |
|
Assumed office July 25, 2016 | |
| Preceded by | Rob Ford |
| Toronto Public School Trustee for (Ward 1) Etobicoke North | |
|
In office December 1, 2014 – May 6, 2016 | |
| Preceded by | John Hastings |
| Succeeded by | Avtar Minhas |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Michael Douglas Aldo Stirpe 1994 (age 21–22) Toronto, Ontario, Canada |
| Political party | Independent (2014-present) Note: municipal politicians in Ontario, including Toronto, run on a nonpartisan basis |
| Relations |
Rob Ford (uncle) Doug Ford, Jr. (uncle) Doug Ford, Sr. (grandfather) |
| Residence | Toronto, Ontario, Canada |
Michael Douglas Ford (born Michael Douglas Aldo Stirpe in 1994)[1] is a Canadian politician, who was elected to Toronto City Council in a by-election on July 25, 2016.[2] He was previously a Toronto District School Board trustee for Ward 1 Etobicoke North from 2014 until May 6, 2016,[3] when he resigned to run in the by-election. The council seat was vacated upon the death of his uncle, former mayor and councillor Rob Ford.
Early life
He was born in 1994 to Ennio Stirpe and Kathy Ford in Toronto, Ontario. Ford attended Richview Collegiate Institute in Etobicoke and graduated in 2012.[4] His father, Ennio Stirpe, was convicted of manslaughter in 2009 and convicted of attempted murder in 2012. He is currently incarcerated and serving an 18-year prison term for attempted murder.[5]
He legally changed his surname from Stirpe to Ford in February 2014.[1]
Political career
In the 2014 municipal election, Ford was initially a candidate for Toronto City Council in Ward 2 Etobicoke North, but dropped out when his uncle Rob withdrew from the mayoral race after being diagnosed with an abdominal tumour.[6] Rob then registered to run for the council seat, while Michael transferred his candidacy to the school board race.
During an interview with The Globe and Mail, Ford stated his last name helped him get elected, but that he is his own man, and unlike his uncles. His colleagues on the Board of Trustees were very concerned when Ford was elected due to his uncles' public lives in politics. But, one of his colleagues, Marit Stiles, told the Globe that Ford was a hard worker, eager to learn, and wasn't afraid to ask questions.[1] He also quickly earned a reputation for being more politically moderate and conciliatory than his uncles — including expressing admiration of Justin Trudeau, whom both of his uncles were known for criticizing, and attending Toronto's Pride Week parade.[7]
Rob Ford died on March 22, 2016, at which time the council seat in Ward 2 was declared vacant.[8] After city council declared on May 6 that a by-election would be held to fill the seat, Michael Ford announced he would resign his trustee position to run for council.[9]
He won the byelection, winning 69.57 per cent of the vote over 11 other challengers. At 22, he is the youngest person in recent history to be elected to council.[10]
References
- 1 2 3 Gee, Eric Andrew (May 5, 2016). "Michael Ford is everything his uncles Rob and Doug are not". The Globe and Mail. Retrieved May 8, 2016.
- ↑ "'Ford nation lives': Michael Ford will carry family's political brand in Ward 2". CBC News, July 26, 2016.
- ↑ Bradley, Dave (May 4, 2016). "Another Ford to run in Ward 2". CFRB. Retrieved May 8, 2016.
- ↑ Brown, Louise (October 30, 2014). "Etobicoke's newest Ford politician his own man - at 20". Toronto Star. Retrieved May 9, 2016.
- ↑ Edwards, Peter (December 27, 2012). "Mayor Rob Ford's former brother-in-law gets 18 years for brutal knife attack that blinded woman". Toronto Star. Retrieved May 8, 2016.
- ↑ "Rob Ford pulls out of mayoral race, Doug Ford steps in". CBC News. September 12, 2014. Retrieved May 9, 2016.
- ↑ "Ward 2 candidates hoping byelection not just a Michael Ford cakewalk". Metro, July 24, 2016.
- ↑ White, Patrick; Gray, Jeff (March 22, 2016). "Former Toronto Mayor Rob Ford dies at 46". The Globe and Mail. Retrieved March 22, 2016.
- ↑ Fox, Chris (May 4, 2016). "Michael Ford announces intention to seek election in Ward 2". CP24. Retrieved May 8, 2016.
- ↑ Pagliaro, Jennifer (November 20, 2015). "Michael Ford will run in byelection to fill Rob Ford's seat". Toronto Sun. Retrieved May 8, 2016.