ANALYSIS: Why John Tory wanted his old job back — and why he won’t seek it

Let’s get the full disclosure stuff out of the way. I’ve known John Tory since he was principal secretary to Premier Bill Davis back in the early 1980s. We had a good professional relationship for decades, but more recently, have become good friends. And I don’t mean Facebook friends or political friends, but real friends. I’ve interviewed him numerous times over the years, and I don’t think he’s ever got a free ride from me, but feel free to keep all that in mind as you read this.

Despite our friendship, I haven’t peppered Tory with questions over whether he intended to win his old job back. I knew the issues he was weighing, and I simply wanted to give him the space to figure it out.

There has never been any question in my mind that Tory very much wanted to be mayor again. He has had myriad jobs since he got involved in politics when he was 14 years old, both advising other politicians from the back rooms and with his name on a ballot. He has run national election campaigns, worked for some legendary political figures, made an unsuccessful bid for mayor, tried to become premier of Ontario, then led the city during one of the most challenging times in its history — the COVID-19 global pandemic.

Of all the jobs Tory has had, being the mayor was his favourite. When he won the job in 2014, he arrived at city council with a ton of federal and provincial experience, but almost none at the municipal order of government. I remember Tory, presiding at his first council meeting, searching in vain for the switch to turn on his microphone. The learning curve was huge.

But he loved dealing with issues at […] This is an excerpt. Read the full story at TVO.org.