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Toronto Mayor Rob Ford to run for re-election despite crack scandal

Scandal-hit Toronto Mayor to run for re-election despite crackgate

Maria Tadeo
Thursday 02 January 2014 15:11 GMT
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Toronto Mayor Rob Ford holds a Rob Ford bobblehead doll at Toronto city hall
Toronto Mayor Rob Ford holds a Rob Ford bobblehead doll at Toronto city hall (AP)

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Toronto Mayor Rob Ford, who recently admitted to smoking crack cocaine, has officially registered for re-election today.

Mr Ford was the first candidate to file his nomination at 8:30 am local time.

"My track record speaks for itself," Mr Ford told reporters. "I've been the best mayor this city has ever had."

He also announced that his slogan will be: "Ford more years".

The embattled mayor has 10 months to clean up his act before the election takes place.

Mr Ford's term in office has been rocked by a series of scandals involving alcohol, drugs, and allegations of sexual harassment.

In November, the Toronto Mayor admitted to smoking crack cocaine in a "drunken stupor", but denied allegations that he is a frequent user of hard drugs.

At the time, he told reporters: "Am I an addict? No. Have I have tried it? Probably in one of my drunken stupors, probably approximately about a year ago."

He was also seen in another video wildly threatening to murder someone.

In a separate incident, the scandal-hit mayor was left red faced after three former staffers and a waiter accused him of sexually harassing a staff member, drink-driving and consorting with prostitutes.

Mr Ford responded to the allegations by stating during a live press conference that he did not want to “eat her p***y”, insisting that he is a happily married man and has "more than enough of that to eat at home". He later apologised for his graphic remarks.

Mr Ford was also caught on camera dancing to Bob Marley's "One Love" during a council meeting.

Toronto’s City Council voted overwhelmingly in favour of stripping the controversial mayor of some of his powers but failed to force his resignation in November.

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