Rob Ford: Era Of Crack-Smoking Mayor At An End

The brother of Rob Ford, the Toronto mayor notorious for his public drinking and illegal drug abuse while in office, has failed in his attempt to take over the job.

John Tory, a moderate conservative, claimed victory instead, with 40% of the vote - ahead of Doug Ford who took 33%.

Rob Ford's four-year tenure as mayor of Canada's largest city was marred by his drinking and crack cocaine use.

He announced last month that he would not seek re-election as he battles a rare form of cancer . His brother, a city councillor, ran in his place.

Doug Ford's supporters booed when he congratulated Mr Tory on his victory. Doug Ford later said the scandals played a part in the loss but said he was "super proud" of his brother.

"I still believe he's the best mayor ever," Doug Ford said.

On winning, Mr Tory told his supporters: "The people have spoken and tonight we begin the work of building one Toronto.

"Torontonians want to see an end to the divisions that have paralysed city hall for the last few years. I hear you."

But Rob Ford is not disappearing from Toronto politics. He won his old city council seat, held by his brother, in a landslide on Monday night and pledged to return to reclaim the mayor's office in 2018.

"We (Fords) never ever give up," he told his supporters. "In four more years, you're going to see another example of the Ford family never ever giving up."

Rob Ford has previously said the doctors have told him he has a 50-50 chance of surviving the rare cancer in his abdomen, malignant liposarcoma.

His drug abuse was first revealed last year when an alleged drug dealer tried to sell a video of him smoking crack to the media.

At first, Rob Ford denied using the illegal drug, but later acknowledged he had smoked crack while in a "drunken stupor" .

Since then, the 45-year-old has been filmed numerous times in public behaving erratically and once smoking crack with his sister. He began rehab for his drugs and alcohol problems earlier this year.

The City Council stripped him of most of his powers but lacked the authority to force him out of office because he was not convicted of a crime.

Rob Ford won the last mayoral election in 2010 with 47% of the votes cast.

Mr Tory, 60, is a long-time moderate conservative politician and adviser. He formerly was chief executive of a major cable company Rogers Communications, and also served as commissioner of the Canadian Football League. More recently, he hosted a radio talk show. He ran for mayor in 2003 and lost.

A record 53.4% of voters turned out in the latest mayoral race.