Mayoral candidates who think they can win this fall's civic election by simply being anti-Rob Ford are gravely mistaken.
Ford has proven himself to be a dodge ball champion - not one of the many events and situations negatively described in detail in media has moved him out of being the frontrunner in the race for the mayor's chair.In fact, there certainly are arguments that can be made to suggest the controversies have galvanized his position atop the polls.Those like George Smitherman, Rocco Rossi, Sarah Thomson and Joe Pantalone must pass two hurdles to have a chance at winning this election.One, they must find a way to cement their own name as an individual in the public mind - and not simply as one of a pack all denouncing Ford's ideas and personal issues.Constant dismissal of Ford by other candidates may well strengthen Ford's brand, not weaken it. Let the media and the pundits report on Ford and ultimately the public will determine how his past affects their belief in his ability to be mayor.The second challenge mayoral candidates face is to be seen to "own" a particular issue. We don't think any of those candidates with names that show up in the polls have distanced themselves as a champion of a particular philosophy or issue. And note to candidates - if you throw out an issue, be prepared to defend it with a detailed vision. If the issue's not big enough and no one else joins the conversation, then you're not likely to get traction with the voters either. Candidates can talk all they want about the election just beginning. The fact is, Ford has consistently created a strong profile for himself - for good or bad reasons - and that's captured the imagination of the voter thus far.But this election should be won on vision for the future of Toronto - and by an individual who has cemented their profile in people's mind as that of an indisputable leader.If another candidate is going to emerge from the pack, it will only be because they too develop a character recognized and accepted by the voter. And that character must include depth of thought and maturity of vision to show they truly understand the complexity and reality of heading a government that runs the City of Toronto. We need a candidate to come forward and be able to say "I own this issue" and "I have the support of other potential council members to get the job done."It's a simple concept called leadership. After all, isn't finding strong leadership for the City of Toronto what this election is all about?