TORONTO

Rob Ford’s chief rival for his old council seat dropped off flowers and a get-well card for the ailing mayor Thursday morning but had the door slammed in his face.

Ward 2 (Etobicoke North) candidate Andray Domise arrived at the mayor’s home shortly after 10 a.m. Thursday with the gifts in hand. He said he was there to offer his support to the mayor, who is recovering from his first round of chemotherapy after being diagnosed with a rare and aggressive form of cancer last week.

When Domise knocked, Ford’s wife, Renata, opened the door, then quickly slammed it. Domise left the basket and card on the mayor’s front porch and then briefly spoke with media, whom his campaign had invited to witness the visit.

“It’s their home, their property,” Domise said. “I just went ahead and left the flowers for them. They can accept it if they like. We just wanted to leave a token, a goodwill gesture on our part.”

Domise defended the decision to make the visit, despite the requests for privacy from the Ford family.

“It was the campaign volunteers who all wanted to pass along the get-well message,” Domise said. “I don’t think it’s necessary to politicize everything that we do. We simply wanted to pass along a message. I’m not really clear how it’s possible saying ‘get well soon’ could be politicized.”

Domise said he invited media to stress that civility must return to political discourse in the city. Combating racist remarks directed towards candidates in the campaign was part of his motivation, he said.

“The reason I contacted you guys was just to make sure we all understand that we have to go back to being neighbours on Oct. 28 and I just wanted to make sure that we’re responsible in the way we speak towards one another,” Domise said.

“In Etobicoke we’re all neighbours, we’re friends.

“When someone is going through a hard time in this community we all feel that. I just wanted to drop by and offer my support and my prayers and thoughts.”

Doug Ford, speaking Thursday morning, again asked for privacy for his brother while he recovered.

“I just wish the media would leave him alone,” Ford said. “I got a call from his wife very upset today that media was staking out their house. I’m just asking again. I don’t know if I have to plead or beg. Please just leave Rob alone.”