John Tory would be the clear favourite if voting for Toronto’s next mayor started today with the current candidates, according to two surveys posted on the Toronto Star’s website Monday.

Both of the non-scientific reader surveys show Tory with a commanding lead over the field, with incumbent Mayor Rob Ford and Councillor Karen Stintz in a race for second place. David Soknacki is a distant fourth.

Tory and Stintz each filed their nomination papers Monday morning.

As of 4 p.m. Monday, a poll of more than 2,000 readers launched during a Toronto Star live chat had Tory in first place, with 63 per cent of the vote. Stintz was a distant second with 14 per cent, less than 40 votes ahead of Ford. Soknacki trailed with 10 per cent.

A separate poll of about 1,000 readers on the Star’s website also showed Tory in a commanding lead, with 56 per cent of the vote as of 4 p.m. This survey had Ford in second place, with 20 per cent, followed by Stintz with 16 per cent and Soknacki with 7 per cent.

Tory, a talk-radio host and former provincial Progressive Conservative leader, threw his hat in ring Monday after weeks of speculation over whether he would run.

Stintz, who also made her candidacy official Monday after earlier announcing her attentions, is the former chair of the TTC who has represented Eglinton-Lawrence since 2003.

Tory and Stintz are both seen as moderate conservatives, as is Soknacki, a former city councillor who registered in early January.

Ford’s main challenger on the left side of the spectrum is expected to be Olivia Chow, but the NDP Member of Parliament has not yet declared her candidacy.

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