Toronto Mayor Rob Ford withdraws re-election bid

TORONTO -- Toronto Mayor Rob Ford withdrew his re-election bid Friday as he seeks treatment for a tumor in his abdomen, ending a campaign he had doggedly pursued despite a stint in rehab and calls for him to quit amid drug and alcohol scandals.

But he announced his brother would run in his place, saying "we cannot go backwards."

Analysts say the decision is unlikely to change the outcome of the mayoral election Ford had been widely expected to lose after a string of revelations involving crack-smoking, public drunkenness and outrageous behavior.

But Toronto won't see the last of Ford anytime soon. He said he has opted to seek a city council seat representing a district in his home suburb of Etobicoke, where his everyman style and conservative fiscal policies first gained a faithful following known as Ford Nation.

"My heart is heavy when I tell you that I'm unable to continue my campaign for re-election as your mayor," Ford said in a statement. "I have asked Doug to run to become the next Mayor of Toronto, because we need him. We cannot go backwards."

Doug Ford, a city councilor who has been the mayor's most fiery defender, submitted his papers to run for mayor in his brother's place. He will face two other major candidates in the Oct. 27 election.

Ford's decision came two days after he was hospitalized, and the tumor was discovered. Biopsy results won't be back for a week, and a diagnosis is pending.

"As many of you know I've been dealing with a serious medical issue, the details of which are unknown. But I know that with the love and support of my family, I will get through this," Ford said in a statement.

The international spotlight first fell on Ford in May 2013, when Toronto Star and the U.S. website Gawker reported the existence of a video apparently showing the mayor inhaling from a crack pipe. He denied the existence of the video for months but admitted to using crack after police announced they had obtained it.

The ensuing uproar climaxed with the Toronto City Council stripping Ford of most of his mayoral powers. It lacked the authority to oust him from office because Ford was not convicted of a crime.

Revelations of Ford's inappropriate behavior piled up over the months. Documents showed former staffers of the mayor told police he was intoxicated at work and drank while driving. A video emerged of an intoxicated Ford threatening to kill someone in an obscenity-laced rant. And school documents recently revealed the mayor once forced students to roll in goose droppings when he had a side job as a high-school football team coach.

The mayor has been the subject of an ongoing police investigation but has not been charged.

When reports emerged this year of a second video showing him apparently smoking crack, Ford decided to enter rehab, but he refused to quit his job or abandon his bid for re-election. He returned to work in June after two months in rehab for drugs and alcohol.

Doug Ford, 49, has stood by his brother throughout the scandals, though he expressed relief the mayor had decided to seek help.

The city councilor has himself has been the subject of drug allegations. The Globe and Mail newspaper reported last year Doug Ford sold hashish for several years in the 1980s, allegations he has denied.

Nelson Wiseman, a University of Toronto political science professor, said Doug Ford's candidacy is unlikely to change the course of an election that his brother had been expected to lose.

"The Ford years in city hall are coming to an end in a few short weeks," Wiseman said. "After this, Toronto's mayor will never again make it in the international news again."

He said he expects John Tory, a moderate conservative, to continue being the front-runner, ahead of Doug Ford and leftist Olivia Chow.

"It's not just that Doug's too late. He doesn't have the celebrity status of Rob Ford. Nobody is running around wanting to take a selfie with Doug," Wiseman said.

At a news conference, Chow wished Rob Ford a speedy recovery and said she would wait for Doug Ford to comment before talking about him.

Josh Matlow, a centrist on city council, called the news shocking and Shakespearean.

"I'm hoping the next term of city council will be a respectful place that focuses on city priorities rather than a soap opera that's watched throughout the world," Matlow said. "The international headlines will no longer be able to use `The crack-smoking mayor' and that will be a good thing for Toronto."

Some Torontonians also expressed relief.

"It's disappointing Doug is running but I'm glad Rob is stepping down," said Louise Carey, 41, a nurse. "It is surprising, he's been really stubborn about stepping down but it's about time."