John Tory’s campaign team will be co-chaired by a Conservative and a Liberal stalwart with experience on Bay Street and political backrooms.

Tory’s current principal secretary at city hall, Vic Gupta, and Toronto Community Housing (TCH) board member Vince Gasparro will helm his 2018 bid for re-election to the mayor’s seat, the Star has learned. The campaign period officially begins May 1. It’s not clear yet when Tory will register for the race.

Gupta will be taking a leave of absence from Tory’s mayoral office, a source confirmed, and Gasparro stepped down from TCH’s board Monday ahead of the announcement expected Tuesday.

Gupta landed the job in the mayor’s office after working on Tory’s successful 2014 campaign. The position was created specifically for him when Chris Eby, a senior campaign member, was picked for the top job of chief of staff.

Gupta has twice been a Progressive Conservative candidate and worked at Sussex Strategy Group, a large national firm that has pushed various city hall issues over the years.

“I'm ready to help John Tory win re-election. I know the Mayor will be taking nothing for granted and that's why we will start building this campaign on Day 1,” Gupta told the Star on Monday.

Gasparro has been on TCH’s board since 2015 and currently works in private equity, dealing with mergers and acquisitions. He is a senior adviser at Lynx Equity, a Toronto-based fund.

“I will be actively supporting Mayor John Tory in his bid for re-election and I will serve in any capacity I am asked to,” Gasparro said in a statement when contacted by the Star.

Gasparro was previously an adviser to prime minister Paul Martin.

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