Deputy Mayor Norm Kelly, arguably Toronto’s most powerful politician, took on the leadership mantle Monday pledging to act as a peacemaker who is ready to get down to the business of running the city.

On Monday, city councillors passed a series of motions stripping Mayor Rob Ford of most of his non-statutory powers and transferred them to Kelly.

“I’m going to extend my hand out to him (Ford) and try to work with him as closely as possible,” Kelly told a throng of reporters inside council chambers moments after the votes were completed. “The mayor apparently wants to wage war. I’d rather wage peace.”

Ford appointed Kelly, 72, as deputy mayor last summer to replace then-councillor Doug Holyday after he was elected MPP for Etobicoke-Lakeshore.

Kelly is a veteran councillor who was elected three times as an alderman in the 1970s. He also served on term as a federal Liberal MP and ran unsuccessfully for Scarborough mayor in 1985 and 1988.

Kelly said he is looking forward to working with some members of Ford’s staff — some who will be joining his office — as well as the mayor.

He has three goals: restoring the public’s confidence in municipal government, repairing the damage done to council relationships and focusing on city business.

“In order to do that, I shall be meeting tomorrow (Tuesday) with the staff that choose to move, members of the executive committee and hopefully the mayor,” said Kelly. “We are a mature city. We’ve got skilled councillors. They had the will to do this and I know as a result they’ve got the will to move on.”

The city’s media relations department released a statement Monday evening.

“This is an unprecedented situation. I can assure my fellow councillors and the residents of Toronto that I will fulfill these delegated responsibilities to the very best of my ability,” Kelly said in the statement.

On Monday, council suspended Ford’s power to appoint the deputy mayor and the chairs of the city’s standing committees. The deputy mayor also assumes oversight of the $882,820 that will be redirected from the mayor’s office.

Council also decided that Kelly — who will remain deputy mayor — will be assigned to the role of chair of the city’s powerful executive committee. Ford remains on that committee.

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Kelly has served on the cabinet-like committee under Mel Lastman, David Miller and Ford’s administrations.

The history buff represents Scarborough Agincourt (Ward 40).