LOS ANGELES—Councillor Doug Ford says it is not fair to judge his new constituency assistant for criminal charges and convictions from the 1990s and 2000s.

Ford hired the assistant, Paul Saracino, on Sept. 30. The Star revealed on Saturday that Saracino, a former blackjack dealer, was convicted in Florida in 2004 for soliciting a prostitute and in 1995 for drinking and driving, and that charges for possession of cocaine and possession of marijuana for the purpose of selling were dismissed around the year 2000.

“That’s brutal. I don’t know how you guys want to try to ruin people’s lives. This guy’s a great guy,” Ford told the Star on his trip to Hollywood on Sunday. “As a matter of fact, all I get is compliments from my constituents. What someone did 18, 19, 20 years ago, I don’t care. I look at the person today. That’s it.”

Only one of the charges or convictions dates back as far as 18 years.

Ford added: “He’s a champion. An absolute champ. That’s all I’m going to comment about.”

Saracino, who is paid by taxpayers, is an old Ford friend from Etobicoke. He has previously worked as a casino blackjack dealer, bartender and flooring installer.

When Saracino was arrested, he gave to police an address for a Florida house that has been used as a mail drop for Deco Labels and Tags, the Ford family company Doug Ford runs. The house is owned by the Saracino family.

Saracino, 48, did not respond to detailed questions sent by the Star by email last week.

Staff of other councillors at city hall told the Star they haven’t had any dealings with Saracino and that he arrived on the scene with no explanation as to his credentials for the job.

Doug Ford’s brother, Mayor Rob Ford, has faced persistent questions about the people in his orbit. Friend and former occasional driver Alexander “Sandro” Lisi has been charged with trafficking marijuana and with extortion, and he has previous criminal convictions for threatening and assaulting women; Rob Ford has defended Lisi, calling him a “good guy” and “straight as an arrow.”

With files from Kevin Donovan and Emily Mathieu

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