Eleven years, three council terms and two mayors after he first sought his city’s highest political office, John Tory is exactly the mayor Toronto needs: balance, integrity, consensus-builder, healer.

In temperament and tone — exhibited through decades of volunteerism and civic advocacy — Tory is Toronto to the core. He is not a Johnny-come-lately; neither is he a shameless publicity seeker and self-promoter. His charitable forays are marked by a low-key brilliance that has lit up the lives of many of the city’s underclass.

That Tory would come to the office of mayor at such a propitious moment in the evolution of the city is Toronto’s fortune. Olivia Chow’s campaign has faded into electoral darkness, dropping her to a distant third in opinion polls. That leaves Tory as the city’s only choice for a civic restoration.

More pointedly, to vote for Chow now, her chances of success barely a faint hope, is to risk a return of the divisive, disastrous reign of the Ford era. Conversely, a vote for Tory sinks Ford.

It should go without explaining, as it is basic math. Polls show Tory up by six to eight points on Ford, whose support is stalled at one-third or fewer. For Chow to win, Tory’s support must collapse by up to 10 points in a few days — highly unlikely for someone whose support has held steady or grown since July. Likewise, Ford must drop a couple points. And Chow must gain all the votes her opponents bleed away. Such an unlikely trifecta would land us on election day with a spread akin to Chow 34, Ford 31, Tory 30. That would be a statistical tie, courting disaster.

Like it or not, the 2014 election is a referendum on the Ford years. Most Torontonians wish that era to end. They want peace, order and good government at city hall.

I’m voting Tory because to do otherwise is to risk a replay of the last four years. That is unthinkable — the lies, the rules-bending and alleged law-breaking, the denials, the enabling of Mayor Rob Ford (open Rob Ford's policard) and his personal failings, the circus, the bullying, the trashing of Toronto’s name, the public spillage of the worst of us in what is supposed to represent the best of us.

Toronto took a gamble on Rob Ford. Fed up with some well-publicized spending faux pas and fiscal arrogance, voters opted to elect the man who promised to storm city hall and bring back fiscal sanity. The goal was laudable; there were some successes. The hero is ill-equipped and deeply flawed.

The mayor’s most influential aide was his brother, Doug, elected for the first time in Ward 2 (the mayor’s old seat). The novice Ford served as an almost twin-mayor. He bullied where he should’ve back-slapped and quickly alienated city councillors whose votes were needed to implement an agenda. He meddled and messed up the sandbox — the waterfront plans, for example — when he should have deferred and learned from the experts. And, too often, the files he touched and the relationships he affected turned to dust.

That would have been forgivable, had he been able to guide his brother, the out-of-control chief magistrate. To the contrary, Doug Ford (open Doug Ford's policard) was the enabler-in-chief. With a straight face, he told Torontonians he had never seen his brother drink or abuse substances.

He tried to bully the media. He attacked the police chief. He disparaged his council colleagues. Together, they were the twin devils of deception.

By the end, apart from his brother, Doug Ford was the most disruptive force on city council. He cannot be allowed to take the reins of power. He would use them more adroitly but ultimately more recklessly than Rob Ford. He is genetically and socially ill-prepared for the role of consensus-builder and mayor.

Chow could easily be the antidote to the Ford years. She has a political lifetime of working with marginalized groups to gain access to political power. She cares. Her platform shows it. It is almost entirely supportable — as good as you can get in a complex city when voters are not preoccupied with a grand vision.

But she won’t be mayor. Not this time. Days before the election, it’s a choice between Doug Ford or John Tory. There is no comparison.

Tory was born into a blue-blood family and one of the country’s top law firms. If he was weaned onto a silver spoon, he has learned to pass it around in many charitable pursuits. There are no “airs” with this Tory. He’s as approachable and normal a rich guy as you’ll find.

Over several decades Tory has quietly stolen into the hearts of many Torontonians. Organizations like the Canadian Film Centre, Canadian Paraplegic Association, Salvation Army, United Way, Women’s Legal Education and Legal Fund and several universities and hospitals have benefitted from his fundraising and volunteer efforts. He helped save the Canadian Football League. He stepped into CivicAction when David Pecaut died way too young.

But it is the unknown, unending, unpublicized mountain of personal assistance to so many across so many barriers that defines him.

Rob Ford was caught on tape talking in Jamaican patois, and the Fords sell themselves as men of the people. But in the several ethnic and racialized communities, Tory’s reach is extensive; and creditably so.

He was the first non-black recipient of a Harry Jerome Award, the African-Canadian community’s premier recognition. Add to that the Planet Africa and the African Canadian Achievement awards and you get the point.

Former Scarborough MPP Mary Anne Chambers credits his “ability to rise above what might make us different to celebrate what we have in common.” Firebrand activist Lennox Farrell endorsed him this week, saying Tory has a way of showing up in the black community to provide support without showcasing his arrival. And football great Pinball Clemons introduced Tory at a rally Sunday with this:

“The right man, in the right place, for the right time.”

Tory does not ride into voting day untested or unchallenged. Opponents have thrown everything at him. He’s been criticized as naive about city hall, out of touch, an elite; and for not putting forward an extensive plan on what he might do for underserved neighbourhoods.

His transit plan, SmartTrack is bold, but has questionable funding.

Loading... Loading... Loading... Loading... Loading... Loading...

He has lost at politics before — but his performance during this long election shows he has matured.

Most importantly, Tory is a good listener and a seeker of common interests. Following an unprecedented descent into four years of chaos and drama now known around the world, Toronto will find him a breath of fresh air.

Royson James usually appears Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday. Email: rjames@thestar.ca

Read more about: