Rob Ford faces top four rivals in first televised debate of mayoral campaign

Photo: Facebook Page of Mayor Rob Ford

TORONTO – Toronto Mayor Rob Ford faces off tonight against the top four challengers for his job in the first televised debate of the campaign for the Oct. 27 municipal election.

The scandal-plagued mayor will debate key municipal issues such as transit with Olivia Chow, John Tory, Karen Stintz and David Soknacki.

Ford’s admission that he has used crack cocaine, along with an ongoing police investigation into his connections to alleged drug dealers, have loomed over his re-election campaign.

The mayor maintains he does not have substance abuse problems and has not committed any crime.

The two-hour debate is scheduled to begin at 5 p.m. and will be broadcast on CityNews as well as live-streamed online.

The network says viewers will be able to vote on the candidates’ performance during the show on its website or by texting or tweeting.