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Doug Ford’s campaign staff ducked questions Tuesday about what he did to vet a London candidate who admits to a history of reckless behaviour that critics allege included slurs against homosexuals, Muslims, feminists and the disabled.

The Free Press asked Ford’s team what steps the Progressive Conservative leader took to check former conservative radio talk-show host Andrew Lawton before hand-picking him to be a candidate rather than allow party members in London West to choose their flag-bearer.

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A spokesperson defended the choice and Lawton but said next to nothing about the process used by Ford or the party to scrutinize Lawton and other candidates chosen by the PC leader to run in the June 7 Ontario election, which Premier Kathleen Wynne is expected to call Wednesday.

“His candidacy was subject to the process in place with the party,” Ford spokesperson Melissa Lantsman wrote in an email. Asked what Ford knew and when, and how Ontarians should react to Ford’s role in selecting Lawton, Lantsman sent a second email with an identical response. Asked to explain that process in detail, including the role played by Ford, Lantsman wrote, “We don’t comment on internal party process.”