Mikey Ford brings the Ford family’s values into new job as Toronto School Trustee

When Michael Ford walked into the Woodbine Banquet Hall Monday night, there were no waves of supporters to meet him, bulldozing over fellow fans for a handshake or a selfie.

That behaviour was reserved for his uncles: newly-elected Toronto Ward 2 councillor Rob Ford and Doug Ford.

Ford is more reserved than they are. He’s mild-mannered, soft-spoken, and doesn’t make a grand entrance at every venue like his uncles.

Michael or “Mikey” Ford may have only gotten hugs from family, friends, and high-school chums, but he recorded the most impressive Ford victory on election night.

Ford, 20, was elected Ward 1 TDSB School Trustee with no past experience and without uttering a word to the media throughout his campaign. He handed former MPP and two-term incumbent John Hastings a stunning defeat, earning about 44 per cent of the vote, nearly twice the votes Hastings had.

"I really appreciate that people trusted me. I will not let them down," Ford told Yahoo Canada News. "I want to carry on the message of integrity, accountability and responsibility, and move forward with that agenda."

Ford, the son of Rob and Doug’s sister Kathy, said he plans to put a focus on school safety from his first day in office.

"We have had a couple of devastating incidents which are really unfortunate and I don’t think that’s acceptable," Ford said. "Parents want to send their kids to a safe school and trust that the school system will keep them safe."

In late September, North Albion Collegiate High School student Hamid Aminzada was fatally stabbed while trying to break up a fight in the school’s hallway. Away from Ford’s ward, but in the same community, two students were also fatally shot outside Don Bosco Catholic Secondary School, leaving many to question the security of students.

The constituents who say they’ve been helped out so many times by Rob and Doug Ford have now put their faith in another Ford to solve the issue.

Initially in the mix for Ward 2 councillor, Ford withdrew his name and entered the bid for school trustee after Rob Ford’s health forced him to drop out of the mayoral race and run for his old council seat instead.

Ford graduated from Richview Collegiate in 2010 and then split his time between classes at Humber College and working for Deco Labels and Tags, the Ford family business.

With a new future ahead, Ford isn’t forgetting the past influence of his uncles in Etobicoke.

"You look at what we’ve ran on for the last four years and Rob for the last ten years: It’s accountability and responsibility with money and that’s important. It’s respect for taxpayers, it’s about giving them a voice."

He may deliver them in a soft, gentle, and unfamiliar voice, but his words are eerily and already spoken like a true Ford.