On Sept 17 2010, David Crombie was one of four former Toronto mayors gathered at the Globe and Mail to discuss the upcoming Toronto municipal elections.Fred Lum/The Globe and Mail
David Crombie, dubbed Toronto's "tiny, perfect mayor," is backing candidate George Smitherman's mayoral bid.
If elected mayor, Mr. Smitherman would appoint the former mayor as special advisor on community hubs - an area he hopes to focus on in stimulating development in the city's increasingly stratified poorer neighbourhoods.
Mr. Crombie, who served as mayor from 1972 to 1978, has been a staunch advocate previously in favour of turning schools in the city into centres of family and community resources.
The former mayor said he's making an exception to his practice of not making endorsements since leaving politics more than two decades ago.
"The next four years is not just an average time for us. ... We need to make sure we've got economic growth, because that has been slipping. We need to make sure this city is a place people want to come to raise your families," he said, adding that he doesn't want to comment on Rob Ford's campaign.
"People should not vote out of fear -- they should vote for positive reasons. I think the stakes are high."