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A Ford ally wants colleagues circling the mayor’s chair to put “some skin in the game” by quitting their council seat if the city goes to a byelection.

Budget Chief Mike Del Grande says he will make that demand at city council if Torontonians do, ultimately, have to head to the polls to fill a seat vacated by a court.

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Last week, Superior Court Justice Charles Hackland ordered Mayor Rob Ford out of office after he found he breached conflict-of-interest rules. On Wednesday, another judge decided the mayor could keep his job until a decision comes down on his appeal. Arguments on the appeal are scheduled for Jan. 7. If the ruling is upheld, council can either call an election, or appoint someone to fill the seat. Speculation and jockeying over who might vie to replace him has already dominated the corridors of city hall.

Council is supreme, I will move the motion at council: if you want to run, give up your seat

Mr. Del Grande says without some sort of risk factor, untold numbers of councillors will want to enter the race “because why the hell not?” Among the names floated as possible candidates from council are Deputy Mayor Doug Holyday, Shelley Carroll, Adam Vaughan, Denzil Minnan-Wong, Karen Stintz, Michael Thompson and Giorgio Mammoliti. The mayor would also be in the running.