Giambrone officially enters mayor's race

Giambrone officially enters mayor's race. Councillor Adam Giambrone addresses the media Feb. 1 during his official announcement the he will run for the mayor's chair in 2010. Staff photo/DAVID NICKLE

Giambrone, 32, was joined by campaign manager John Laschinger and a crowd of more than 20 journalists Monday, Feb. 1 to file his nomination papers at City Hall this morning.

Laschinger managed both of Mayor David Miller's successful campaigns for mayor in 2003 and 2006.

Giambrone spoke only briefly to reporters. He wouldn't speak about any details of his campaign - saving that until he meets with supporters at a restaurant on College Street Monday night.

"I'm going to talk more about that tonight, so I'm inviting everyone to hear about more of the specifics, but the most important thing a new mayor can do is listen, and that's what I'm going to do," he said.

Giambrone made it clear the mayoralty run wouldn't keep him from his duties as chair of the TTC.

"I'm not going to let this campaign distract me from my work as chair of the TTC or as the local councillor," he said.

And he briefly addressed his relative youth: at 32, Giambrone is the youngest candidate in the race. He said he's been on council long enough to learn the ropes - but not too long.

"The mayoralty isn't an entry level job," he said. "I've been here at the city for seven years which I think is long enough to gain the experience I need, to learn about the city, and yet not long enough to have been here too long," he said.

Giambrone's announcement drew fire almost immediately from one opponent, former deputy premier George Smitherman.

Smitherman issued a news release calling for Giambrone to resign from the TTC chairmanship.

"Adam Giambrone's four years at the helm have demonstrated his complete inability to run a complex organization. Trains don't run on time - and even escalators in subway stations don't work," Smitherman said.

"I don't think people should have to tolerate another year of poor service while Adam puts his personal political ambitions ahead of the needs of riders - the TTC needs full-time leadership now more than ever."

Laschinger said Giambrone's time at the head of the troubled TTC is as much an advantage as a disadvantage.

"The TTC is a double-edged sword in my view," he said.

"Yes it causes problems, but politicians love problems because you get to show yourself - you get to show how you can handle problems. And he's made his reputation. The reason probably why he's a candidate today is because of the TTC, what he's done for the TTC. He's a young man running a large organization. You have a little good, you have a little bad, but on balance I think it's allowed him to show his stuff. If he was just a councillor from Ward 18, I don't think he'd probably be a candidate."

Giambrone's candidacy was hardly a surprise.

On Jan. 28 the councillor for Ward 18 (Davenport) appeared in a video posted on YouTube, whimsically going through various calisthenics before declaring himself "ready" for a run for the mayoralty.

He took some hits from those commenting on YouTube, but said he didn't mind taking a light-hearted approach to the campaign launch.

"You know, people have known me as a very serious person for the last couple of years," he said. "At some point you have to step back and have a little fun."

Laschinger said the video was "a big net positive."

"It showed him as an individual who's prepared to poke fun at himself," said Laschinger. "I don't know why, but people like politicians who poke fun at themselves and don't take themselves too seriously."