TORONTO – An audit committee at City Hall has ruled that the case against Mayor Rob Ford for overspending during the 2010 municipal election campaign will not be sent to a special prosecutor.
A forensic audit of Ford’s campaign finances found he exceeded the authorized spending limit of $1.3-million by $40,000.
Ford’s lawyer argued the mayor ran an above-board campaign, always checking to
make sure he followed the rules.
After almost two hours, the three-person committee voted 2-1 not to prosecute Ford, leaving the mayor smiling.
“Thank you so much for your support during the campaign and every day since,” Ford said.
Ford called his brother Councillor Doug Ford his “best friend,” thanking him for all his support.
“It’s been a heavy, heavy burden on you. In addition to everything else on your plate, you’ve never let me down and I’ll always, always be grateful for that.”
The mayor also thanked the compliance audit committee for taking their job seriously.
If the committee had decided to send the case to a special prosecutor, Ford could have been removed from office, or alternatively, he could have faced a fine.
In other Ford news, the legal team that launched the conflict-of-interest suit against Mayor Ford will be filing a response Monday to Ford’s demands that Paul Magder pay his court costs.
Ford wants Magder, the citizen who launched the legal action, to pick up the $116,000-tab.
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so has a precident been set, wonder what will happen to Mammolitti now…..
So sick of Rob Ford , Please go away
A scooby doo episode… all i have to say
Another example of power. Rules to not apply. Unless you are a middle class or poor person. Doesn’t matter what Ford does because his fishing buddy (Harper) will bail him out any time.
Quel surprize. Ironic that a mayor who was elected on a platform of fiscal responsibility can blow off $40,000 as an oversight. But the rules don’t apply to him, just to his enemies. I wonder when or if the rules will ever apply to mr ford? Maybe if he kills someone while reading and driving? Nah, then it’ll be the leftie pinko victim’s fault for trying to stop him.
I continue to be astounded at how many people swallow the sound bites and excuses.
Speaking of enimies why havent all city councillors been audited. Why only Rob Ford and Mammoliti. I’ll bet you’ll find a whole bunch on councillors from either side has probably done the same thing but that will never get mentioned will it? . Sort of one sided don’t you think. Perhaps those are the questions you should be asking yourself before you open your mouth!
Guess 3% allowed for inflation and cost of rising fuel prices!
Leave the mayor alone and let him do his job. Big deal he went over 3%, Big deal he coaches football a few hours a week on his 80 hour work schedule, etc. He’s a bull in a China shop with a nmission to get the city on financial track, I think he’s pretty good at it too. He may not always hit the target but he’s usually close and any errors I can forgive because he has his heart in the city and not personal profits. Go get em Rob, you rock.
If Toronto doesn’t want you move out to Durham, someone needs to clean out the gravy train in this zone.
It looks like Boss Hogg really is the teflon don. I guess the rules are only there for show and tell, so the rich can just spend whatever they want apparently.
the teflon don slips through another one !! anyone who votes for this guy is nuts !!!
Now will the people leave the Mayor alone to do the job he was elected to do? He has been trying and doing a good job despite the continuous road blocks. Let’s see Paul Magder run for Mayor and then let everyone take pot shots at him.
Funny how when one chooses the people who oversee fairness etc. those same people find you innocent.
Israel uses this tactic too.
Accountability,
If you are suggesting that Ford pay for his legal bills to defend himself, then who would ever want to go into politics? Ford won the case, why should he be out of pocket for doing nothing wrong? Obviously Madger has money to burn to take Mr Ford to court over something really silly and trivial….well then let him pay. I don’t understand why you sympathise with Madger???? It seems he knew what he was doing, he brought the claim to court, Ford didn’t….now he has to pay. It’s quite simple.
I agree – Madgar should be responsible for Mr. Ford’s legal fee. It has nothing to do with his Lawyer doing it for free or not. If you ask me there is something fishy about that hole case. Why would a high profile lawyer take that case for free anyway?
Ford as an elected offician is insured for this kinds of events and the insurance will cover all his legal bills. A private citizen is the only one who can take an elected official to court. Madger used a lawer that was working for him for free otherwise it would have been ready difficult for him to pay for the legal procedures. If private citizens needs to worry about paying the elected officials legal bill should they loose, then no one will try to bring these people to justice in cases where is evident the laws were broke.
Sure, he should pay the legal bills. Just as Ford should repay the 3,000 in donations. One cannot happen without the other,
wow can people not say TARGET. Holy this guy is target after target someone has it out for him. Truestory.
I say we ask Adam Vaughn to comment on this. I haven’t heard of any recent whines from him in a few days. Come on Adam! Speak up!
So far, fairness and justice did not touch Ford.
If Magder will be forced to pay Ford’s legal costs say good-bye to accountability in any city office. Everyone will do as they please because no private citized will try to bring them to justice.
As for the campain overspending, 40 K is a big amount that can give someone an unfair advantage in the election. Everyone must obey the rules or pay the just price.
Magda should bay for Rob Ford’s legal bill. He didn’t bring this case forward as a concerned citizen he brought it forward as part of a witch hunt. Karma is not always your friend and Paul Magda deserves the legal bill that is coming his way.
You are absolutely right Peter. That pinko deserves whats coming to him. Maybe next time he’ll think twice before pounding his chest and heading out on a fruitless witch hunt.
how much is the opposition paying you to post this?
I agree. In the middle of a campaign, the accounting is usually weeks behind. Tell me other’s have not over/under-spent to where they thought they would end up. Let’s put ALL of the Councillor campaigns under a forensic audit to see the results. This is ridiculous.
Really?! What an excuse. Competent people with integrity can follow rules and spend within the budget during elections. The Fords just lack that integrity.
When it is all going to stop?
Some people just keep on looking for any reason to get him out of office.
OK, so he did over spend at the election. But if you bring it down to the level of anyone of us over spending by just 3% – is that such a brig crime? Let be real and go on with our life. Let people decide at the next election for Mayor.
Yes… spending rules for election campaigns are there for a reason. He basically cheated to get better results. Just like his other assaults on democracy, this is a fairly egregious one. You can’t get way with these offences just because you have money. The financing rules for elections are there to keep an even playing field for all candidates.
Dan… It might be so but was everyone else audited also or only Mr. Ford. And if so why only him. Do you know all the facts? We all know that if they are looking for something they will find something in anybody. Can you honestly say that they could not find something in your background if they were really digging?