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Can Smitherman overcome his past?

Will Furious George be able to escape the eHealth scandal and sway voters wary of party politicians and become Toronto’s next mayor?

“Furious” George Smitherman’s announcement that he would be making a run for Toronto’s mayoral position has left some scratching their heads. Does Smitherman stand a chance after overseeing a $1 billion failure?

John Barber

Former city columnist, Globe and Mail

The prospect of the Toronto mayoralty race dominated by two provincial politicians debating provincial politics (eHealth, for instance) fills me with despair. The city is besieged with political opportunists, of whom George Smitherman is the emperor. No new clothes will make him a friend of Toronto.

Angelo Persichilli

Political columnist, Toronto Star

Toronto has all the ingredients to be the best city in the world. The only thing missing is a chef with a bit of creativity. George Smitherman is definitely a chef, but I don’t believe he has the needed creativity to bring the city beyond the boundaries of the old Toronto.

Andrea Horwath

Ontario NDP leader

The “Furious George” label stuck for a reason. There was a lot of sound and fury, but the legacy at the ministry of health isn’t too inspiring. George Smitherman may want a new job, but he still has some explaining to do about his last one. A billion dollars of public money was basically flushed down the toilet in George Smitherman’s Ministry of Health, and that’s not something you can brag about.

Enza Anderson

Social columnist, former mayoral candidate

When it comes to our current crop of municipal politicians,Toronto definitely deserves better. If George Smitherman can bring down our current mayor without an election, then there’s no stopping him as to what great things he can do for this city.

This article appears in the December 2009 issue of Post City Magazines

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