Julian Fantino to seek Ontario PC leadership?
Campbell Clark, "PC family ties complicate Ontario leadership race," Globe and Mail, March 20, 2009
Ontario Provincial Police Commissioner Julian Fantino has called some Ontario Tory organizers to see if he would have support if he ran, Conservative insiders say.Another federal minister, Public Safety Minister Peter Van Loan, gauged support for his own leadership bid last week, but backed off after finding a candidacy from outside the Queen's Park caucus would get a cool response, according to several insiders.
Some Conservative organizers said they believe Commissioner Fantino has found the same reaction. But one Tory called by Commissioner Fantino said that in a contest that will be decided by a grassroots vote, rather than delegates, the commissioner could mount a candidacy based on recruiting new members who want a leader from outside the caucus and who like his law-and-order background.
I assume Fantino would have to resign/retire from the OPP before running, right?
Other contenders discussed in the article include federal Human Resources minister Diane Finley, and the widely expected campaigns by Tim Hudak and Christine Elliot.
Well, that's a silver lining, if it's true.
I say let the evil fascist fucker run. I wanna see, once and for all: what is the appetite for brown shirts and jackboots in this province?
Um, I'm not sure if I do.
Generally speaking, I am not sure how comfortable I am with someone going straight from top cop into political leadership.
But on policy issues, is he any further right than the other leading contenders?
Also, I have a feeling that picking Fantino could be a repeat of some of the same mistakes the PCs made with John Tory. Fantino has no seat, so he'd have to find one. The most likely places for him would be Toronto or London, but his party doesn't hold many seats in either location right now.
Fantino also has no prior elected experience. On paper, John Tory looked great but in practice, his political "instincts" and ability to actually connect with voters proved, shall we say, lacking. On what basis can the PCs conclude that Fantino would be any different?
Fantino's name is well known/remembered in both Toronto and London when he was top cop in both cities. Also, as the current head of the OPP, he gets a lot of press. Plus the recent scandal. I don't think people always remember the "bad" things, especially with right wing politicians/persons in the news, just the names. And name-recognition counts.
If he were to run, and win, the PC leadership in Ontario? And run against Dalton in the next provincial election? I shudder to imagine the consequences.
An-dre-a! An-dre-a!
P.S. I'm in Smitherman's riding, so I'm no good to anyone. Run! Save yourselves!
The Shawn Brant wiretap threats.
July 2008: http://www.cbc.ca/canada/story/2008/07/21/fantino-ndp.html
I can't speak for the level of support Fantino may find he has (or doesn't have) among the PC membership. But as for the question of "what does he do with the rest of his career," the guy is 67 years old. If he really does want to be Premier, this is his one and only shot. I imagine that at this point if he were to run and lose, he would retire and write another book or something of the like.
I think the real issues for him will be (1) is there enough support out there that he doesn't embarass himself? And related to that, (2) can he raise the amount of money he'll need to be a serious candidate?
If he ran he'd have to resign as OPP Commissioner. There's no way he could take a "leave of absence" and then resume his old job if is beaten at convention.
If he does win he wouldn't have to worry about a seat. He could just organize a march on Toronto from Orillia and seize power. (click link)
Well, he better not be looking to get elected in Haldimand, that's for sure. Those folks are some pissed at him.
Who could keep up beyond what they print for the masses.
And that's probably the clincher. I suppose most of the "draft Fantino" types have forgotten that, well, he ain't as young as he was...
I was trying to find an account of the actual interchange between Fantino and the Judge, where Fantino got mad and the Judge shut him down. Can't find it exactly ...
Fantino's accused of maliciously transferring an OPP officer, who has taken him to court over it. Good for him!
The Judge caught Fantino fudging his story and Fantino tried to intimidate the judge. After responding snidely a couple of times when the judge demanded clarification of his two different stories, the judge nailed him and Fantino had to suck.it.up and say "Yes sir", not what he's used to. It was priceless! (written online even)
The next day, Fantino stopped the hearing to try to get the Judge removed. Now, after delaying the court for months with that, it looks like Fantino will have to continue testifying before the same judge, Montgomery.
Good!!
In November, Fantino's prosecutor at the disciplinary hearing asked Montgomery to step down.
In doing so, Brian Gover also said he would take the matter to court if the retired justice did not do so, and insisted the province's attorney general supported him.
An angry Montgomery refused to step aside, calling Gover's comments a "highly improper" attempt to intimidate a judicial officer.
The Divisional Court said Montgomery's reaction was "reasonable."
The panel also rejected Curry's assertions the adjudicator had shown hostility to the prosecution on several occasions, including once when Montgomery said he was "upset" after Fantino changed an answer he had given earlier.
The court called Fantino's response "gratuitous."
No wonder Fantino's looking for an excuse to step down from the OPP ... cos he may not have a choice!
It was very clear that Fantino transferred the officer maliciously and was lying to the judge.
Now he has to pick up at that point in the hearing.
hahaha ... This will be good!
For some reason ... I am eerily reminded of the Senate hearings (lat night tv rocks!) where former RCMP Commissioner Zacardelli was exposed as a liar.
It too was chilling, watching him change his story pretending he wasn't.
The audience of RCMP officers guffawed, and his 2nd in command, in frustration, said "That's what he does all the time! He doesn't tell the truth!"
Fantino is just as chilling, imo.
And I agree that maybe the pc leadership campaign will get him out of the OPP.
sshhhh ... we hope it's because he wants a 'gracious' way out of the opp
... and he'll lose ... and maybe disappear overseas to with Zacardelli.
"Well, that's a silver lining, if it's true.
I say let the evil fascist fucker run. I wanna see, once and for all: what is the appetite for brown shirts and jackboots in this province?"
M. Spector:
"Um, I'm not sure if I do."
That about sums up the debate in my mind. If Fantino steps down from the OPP to run, and loses, would he actually just dry up and blow away? I'm not sure. He keeps popping up in Ontario politics like some vampire from B movies from the 30's and 40's.
Fantino might start consulting his files and notes, in J. Edgar Hoover fashion to see what support he can garner from closet cross dressers in the tory party he has pictures of, the financial backers who's wives were let off from shop lifting charges, and those caught in john stings.
Never count a bottom feeder out.
On the other hand a Fantino leadership would certainly go a long way in bringing together estranged allies on the left in this province, and polarizing the electorate.
Well anyway, there's no word on Fantino on CP today. They are calling Hudak the front-runner (Mr. Deb Hutton, backed by Mike Harris and Tom Long of the Common Sense Revolution, 41), with Christine Elliott (52, Mrs. Jim Flaherty) also expected to bid.
From the Star:
So in the battle of the blue machines, it looks like the cops are out of it at this stage.
http://www.thestar.com/News/Ontario/article/604018There is a letter to the editor in today's Globe from Fantino stated unambiguously that he has no plans whatsoever to run for the PC leadership and that he will remain head of the OPP.
So much for that.
Fantino's letter
Note the letter states his "current" focus is on the responsibilities of his job with the OPP and therefore he is not "considering" a run for the leadership "at this time."
Its a little-less "Shermanesque" than saying he would not run, would decline the nomination if offered, etc. Sounds to me more like he wants someone to "draft" him. It remains to be seen whether or not such a plea will be forthcoming, of course.
Fantino as Ontario PC leader - good grief! (although I doubt Peter Van Loan would be any better)
It is a bit of a non-denial denial but I wouldn't be surprised if the Minister of Public Safety (or whatever the Solicitor-General is called these days) didn't get on the phone with Fantino yesterday and tell him to either announce he's quitting the OPP or announce he's not running.
The Tories' problem is Tim Hudak is unelectable and they know it while Randy Hillier is not only unelectable but a complete nutter. Rumours of some sort of trumped up Bonaparte riding in on a stallion to save the party is a sign of desperation in the Albany Club.
Sorry to fuel flames and fright, but...is he? Harrisian allegiances aside, Hudak always struck me as someone with a touch of Gen XYZ savvy in his political method...he might, in the end, turn out to be less unelectable (or at least, less divisive within his own party) than John Tory.
And if not Hudak, who do they have who is so-called "electable" without sparking internal dissension?