Plans are afoot for a "unity" fundraising dinner aimed at erasing the campaign debts of all the Toronto mayoralty candidates who finished the race in the red, The Globe and Mail has learned.
Former premiers David Peterson and Mike Harris, former Ontario Progressive Conservative leader John Tory and fundraising guru Ralph Lean are among the elder statesmen who have begun discussing a joint event that would most likely be held in January.
"It's very preliminary at the moment," Mr. Peterson said. "But there is thought in the wake of the campaign of bringing everybody together to assert common cause for the good of the city and to help anybody that needs a little help with fundraising."
Mayor-elect Rob Ford is an enthusiastic backer of the idea, according to his brother and councillor-elect Doug Ford.
The mayor-elect is believed to have the largest debt of any of the contenders. He raised about $950,000 but spent the limit of approximately $1.3-million, not including the cost of fundraising and throwing a victory bash, said chief of staff Nick Kouvalis.
"We're going to put an olive branch out there," Doug Ford said. "We're going to work with everyone because I believe everyone has great ideas."
The councillor-elect suggested that all of his brother's erstwhile rivals are on board, but at least one - Joe Pantalone - intends to reject the invitation.
"I have not indicated any interest. Nor is it likely I will have any interest in participating, given the fact that my campaign was based on different values," Mr. Pantalone said.
"It's his loss," Doug Ford said. "If he has another way to take care of his debt, more power to him. I think the world of Joe."
It's unclear how much debt the deputy mayor is carrying. He raised about $850,000 as of Oct. 15, according to a list of donations he released before the election.
Three candidates who dropped out before election day are saddled with debt.
Giorgio Mammoliti isn't sure of the size of his debt. Sarah Thomson said she still owes about $100,000. Rocco Rossi is carrying a small campaign debt, according to campaign manager Bernie Morton.
George Smitherman, meanwhile, raised and spent the maximum, and is free of campaign debts, according to his campaign manager, Bruce Davis.
Mr. Mammoliti and Mr. Rossi are keen on the idea of a joint fundraiser. So is Ms. Thomson. "Oh, that would be sweet. Are you kidding me? Of course [I'd take part,]rdquo; she said, adding that she has put her feud with mayor-elect Ford behind her.
Mr. Davis said it was too early to say whether Mr. Smitherman would attend the event. The former deputy premier is on vacation after his election loss. But Ralph Lean, the Bay Street lawyer who spearheaded Mr. Smitherman's fundraising efforts, said he believes Mr. Smitherman would embrace the idea.
"If you can get rid of debts together, it's a good thing," Mr. Lean said. "And the sooner they do it, the better it is. Politics, when you've got a debt, it's personal. That's not a good thing hanging over your head."
Doug Ford and Mr. Peterson both said Mr. Harris has been involved in the embryonic talks, but the former premier couldn't be reached for comment.
Mr. Tory confirmed he would participate if the event goes ahead. It wouldn't be the radio host's first foray into post-election fundraising for others: He chaired a fundraiser to cover David Miller's campaign debts after the 2003 election, and he did the same for Barbara Hall.