Brad Bradford
Bradford in 2018
Toronto City Councillor
for Ward 19 Beaches—East York
Assumed office
December 1, 2018
Preceded byWard established
Personal details
Born (1986-08-01) August 1, 1986
Ancaster, Ontario, Canada
SpouseKathryn Randle
Children2
Parent
Residence(s)East York, Toronto
Alma mater
Occupation
WebsiteCampaign website
Constituency website

Brad Bradford (born August 1, 1986) is a Canadian politician and urban planner who has represented Ward 19 Beaches—East York on Toronto City Council since 2018. Bradford ran for mayor of Toronto in the 2023 by-election, placing eighth.

Early life

Bradford was born to Valerie Bradford, who gave her son the first name Bradford, to continue her family name (as her father and uncle had five daughters combined and no sons), along with her spouse's last name. When he was seven, his mother left her spouse and raised her three children as a single mother and reverted to using her original surname. Deciding he wanted to use his mother's surname, Bradford adopted his present surname, shortening his first name to Brad.[1][2][3]

Background

Prior to his election, Bradford worked as an urban planner for the City of Toronto.[4] He holds a Bachelor of Environmental Studies (BES), in urban and regional environments from York University, and a Master of Arts (MA) in urban planning from the University of Waterloo.[5][6]

Family

Bradford's mother, Valerie Bradford,[7] was elected as the member of Parliament (MP) for Kitchener South—Hespeler in the 2021 federal election.[8] He has two daughters, Briar and Bronwyn, with his wife Kathryn.[9][10][11]

Political career

First term

2018 election

During the 2018 municipal election campaign, Bradford received endorsements from Mayor John Tory, Deputy Mayor Ana Bailão, former Liberal member of Provincial Parliament (MPP) Arthur Potts, Councillor Mary-Margaret McMahon (the previous incumbent of ward 32, which made up a part of the current ward boundaries),[12] and former Toronto chief planner and mayoral candidate Jennifer Keesmaat.[13]

Bradford defeated candidate Matthew Kellway, who represented Beaches—East York federally from 2011 to 2015 as the New Democratic MP.[14]

Second term

2022 election

Bradford campaigned on the need for affordable housing, to improve parks, improving transportation, and reducing crime in the 2022 election. He ran against five other candidates and was endorsed by Mayor John Tory.[15][16][17]

Planning and housing committee

Following the 2022 election, Bradford was appointed as the chair of the planning and housing committee.[18][19] Following the election on Mayor Olivia Chow, Bradford was named vice-chair.[20]

2023 mayoral by-election

Following the resignation of Mayor Tory in February 2023, Bradford formed an advisory committee to explore a run for mayor of Toronto. He was advised by Liberals Khokon Abbas, a consultant, former candidate Andrea Barrack and campaign strategist Bob Lopinski, as well as Progressive Conservatives Dennis Matthews and Kory Teneycke, who worked on Premier Doug Ford's campaign team.[21]

Shortly after he indicated he was considering a run for mayor, a postering campaign describing him as "two-faced Brad" began to circulate in his ward.[22]

Campaign and platform

Bradford hired Matt Hiraishi, who previously worked as chief of staff and former campaign manager to Ontario education minister Stephen Lecce, as his campaign manager .[23]

One of the first platform items he released was a plan to increase public safety on the Toronto Transit Commission (TTC). He proposed establishing a new agency to respond to mental health crises, expanding cell phone service throughout the subway system, hire an additional 40 special constables and 50 police officers to patrol the TTC and, and retrofit subway stations to include platform doors.[24][25]

Bradford proposed redeploying 200 parking enforcement officers at 50 intersections during rush hour, and create a new office to coordinate construction and maintenance projects.[26]

He lost the election, only having received 9254 votes. [27]

Election results

2022 Toronto municipal election, Ward 19 Beaches—East York
Candidate Vote  %
Brad Bradford15,16954.71
Jennie Worden6,29122.69
Adam Smith1,9026.86
Steven Thompson1,7356.26
Frank Marra1,4605.27
Donna Braniff7032.53
Sébastien Auger4691.69
Total 27,729
100%
Source: City of Toronto[28]


2018 Toronto municipal election, Ward 19 Beaches—East York
Candidate Votes Vote share
Brad Bradford 14,286 38.56%
Matthew Kellway 13,998 37.78%
Joshua Makuch 2,315 6.25%
Diane Dyson 1,612 4.35%
Veronica Stephen 1,257 3.39%
Valérie Maltais 929 2.51%
Adam Smith 708 1.91%
Brenda MacDonald 601 1.62%
Paul Bura 288 0.78%
David Del Grande 283 0.76%
Morley Rosenberg 248 0.67%
Frank Marra 142 0.38%
Donald Lamoreux 141 0.38%
Norval Bryant 89 0.24%
Dragan Cimesa 77 0.21%
Paul Murton 74 0.20%
Total
37,048
100%
Source: City of Toronto[29][30]

References

  1. ↑ Paikin, Steve (February 22, 2022). "How this city councillor convinced his mother to enter politics, too". TVO.
  2. ↑ @BradMBradford (April 25, 2023). ""Why is your name Brad Bradford!?!?!"" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  3. ↑ Hasham, Alyshah (2023-04-28). "Inside the race for mayor: Brad Bradford's name is explained, and a crashing cat". The Toronto Star. Retrieved 2023-05-06.
  4. ↑ "Brad Bradford wins Ward 19, Beaches—East York, in close race". Toronto Star, October 22, 2018.
  5. ↑ "Councillor Brad Bradford". City of Toronto. 2018-12-01. Retrieved 2020-06-15.
  6. ↑ "Brad Bradford". LinkedIn.
  7. ↑ Kopun, Francine (2018-11-30). "Brad Bradford heads to Toronto city council seeking 'a better way to do it'". The Toronto Star. ISSN 0319-0781. Retrieved 2021-12-11.
  8. ↑ "New role as MP a 'dream' for Kitchener South-Hespeler's Valerie Bradford". therecord.com. 2021-09-22. Retrieved 2021-12-11.
  9. ↑ Raza, Ali (2021-02-01). "Beaches-East York Councillor Bradford and wife Kathryn welcome baby Briar". The Toronto Star. ISSN 0319-0781. Retrieved 2021-12-11.
  10. ↑ Brad Bradford [@BradMBradford] (January 30, 2021). "On a cold January night, we brought a little warmth into the world. Our family becomes three as we welcome our beautiful daughter, Briar. Very grateful to the incredible team at @MGHToronto, and for all of the love and support from family and friends. Feeling blessed" (Tweet). Archived from the original on January 31, 2021 – via Twitter.
  11. ↑ Gribilas, Thea (June 5, 2023). "Mayoral candidate Brad Bradford and wife welcome second daughter". Toronto Star. Retrieved June 26, 2023.
  12. ↑ "Bio".
  13. ↑ "Campaign Updates". Brad Bradford. Retrieved 2019-04-18.
  14. ↑ "Toronto election 2018: Meet your new city councillors - Toronto | Globalnews.ca". globalnews.ca. 2018-10-23. Retrieved 2019-04-17.
  15. ↑ "Ward 19 — Beaches-East York". The Local. 2022-09-15. Retrieved 2023-03-03.
  16. ↑ Shackleton, Al (2022-10-25). "Brad Bradford elected to second term as councillor for Beaches-East York". Beach Metro Community News. Retrieved 2023-03-03.
  17. ↑ Casemore, Jamie (2022-09-18). "Seven candidates compete for city councillor in Beaches-East York". The Toronto Observer. Retrieved 2023-03-03.
  18. ↑ Jeffords, Shawn (November 24, 2022). "Tory puts key allies, newcomers in powerful positions at City Hall". CBC News.
  19. ↑ "Toronto City Council names members to committees, agencies, boards and corporations". City of Toronto. 2022-11-24. Retrieved 2023-03-03.
  20. ↑ Goodman, Rachel (2023-08-11). "Olivia Chow announces key committee and advisory body appointments". NOW Toronto. Retrieved 2023-10-13.
  21. ↑ Lilley, Brian (February 28, 2023). "LILLEY: Brad Bradford makes the early move in bid to be Toronto mayor". Toronto Sun. Retrieved 2023-03-31.
  22. ↑ McAllister, Mark (March 3, 2023). "Campaign underway to keep 'Two-Faced Brad' from winning Toronto mayor's race". CityNews Toronto. Retrieved 2023-03-31.
  23. ↑ "Toronto mayoral campaign officially kicks off with opening of candidate nominations". St. Albert Gazette. Retrieved 2023-04-20.
  24. ↑ Gurney, Matt (April 6, 2023). "The problems with Brad Bradford's plan to make the TTC safer". TVO Today. Retrieved 2023-04-20.
  25. ↑ "Brad Bradford introduces SafeTTC Now". Brad Bradford. Retrieved 2023-04-20.
  26. ↑ "Brad Bradford announces plan to solve Toronto traffic gridlock". torontosun. Retrieved 2023-04-20.
  27. ↑ "Declaration of Results: 2023 By-Election for Mayor, June 26, 2023" (PDF). Toronto.ca. Retrieved October 31, 2023.
  28. ↑ Elvidge, John D. (October 27, 2022). "Declaration of Results" (PDF). Toronto City Clerk's Office.
  29. ↑ "Declaration of Results" (PDF). Toronto City Clerk's Office. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2018-10-25. Retrieved June 15, 2020.
  30. ↑ "2018 Municipal Election (25 Wards)". Archived from the original on 2018-10-23. Retrieved June 15, 2020.
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