Toronto mayoral candidates look to win the battle of endorsements as election day nears

With less than two weeks to go before Toronto elects a new mayor, some of the race's top challengers are trying to build their cases by winning the battle of council endorsements.

Former deputy mayor Ana Bailão and former NDP MP Olivia Chow are at the front of the pack when it comes to earning the backing of council. Of the 25 people on council, Bailão so far has the endorsement of seven councillors, Chow has the support of four and former police chief Mark Saunders has the backing of one. 

A pair of former city councillors say those endorsements could carry some weight at the ballot box, but may also have practical implications for a race where margin of victory could be close.

"If, for example, the councillor who's doing the endorsing is also sending campaign workers their way or running their own mini-campaign in their ward, that can make a big difference," former city councillor Filion said.

The veteran councillor who once represented Willowdale, Ward 18, said the endorsement battle could also give voters an indication of the type of coalition a candidate would have to pass their agenda. 

"Being mayor is very much like heading up a minority government," he said. 

Filion said even with the "strong mayor" system awarded to former mayor John Tory still at the disposal of the city's next top elected official, building consensus will be important. Some candidates have said they won't use those powers, which give the mayor the ability to pass some votes with minority support. 

Filion said the city's next mayor will want to build a group of supporters to pass items at council and to serve as chairs of city committees.

"It's a constant effort to keep corralling enough votes to have your agenda go through," he said.

Former city councillor Joe Mihevc said endorsements matter. Name recognition is important in municipal elections, and if a voter doesn't know a candidate, an endorsement from someone they do know can be helpful.

"It's a way of saying, 'Well, if you don't think I'm the right candidate, look at all these people that are behind me, they can affirm it," he said. "That can give you that Good Housekeeping seal of approval."

But Mihevc is quick to point out that even a candidate with relatively few or no council endorsements can build a coalition at city hall if they win. 

"I do think that once you're elected, that you do have a year or two years of a honeymoon period," he said. "Unless you're proposing something that is really outlandish, (council) will recognize that the people have spoken."

Coun. Jamaal Myers endorsed Olivia Chow last week. He said he made the decision after consulting with constituents, meeting with Chow and looking at her plan.