For the last three years, Doug Ford has been known mainly as the big brother of crack-smoking Toronto Mayor Rob Ford. But now he's in the spotlight, making a run for City Hall after his scandal-scarred sibling dropped out of the race to be treated for a rare cancer.
The pugnacious 49-year-old began campaigning in earnest just this weekend, and he will participate in his first debate on Tuesday. So far, polls put him in second place with the election a little more than a month away.
At this point, the world probably knows a little too much about Rob Ford. Here's a look at the man who might just take in place in Toronto politics.
He went into the family business
Doug Ford credits himself with expanding the company co-founded by his father and namesake — Deco Labels and Tags — which now has operations in New Jersey and Chicago. It's not clear exactly how much he's worth, but the business has sales in the tens of millions and Doug lives in a $1.7 million home.
He's definitely the man of the house
Ford and his wife, Karla, have four daughters: Kyla, Kara, Kayla and Krista. Krista briefly played for what was known as the Lingerie Football League — later called the Legends Football League — which features women in bikinis and helmets playing tackle football.
He followed his baby brother into politics
Doug Ford was elected to the City Council in 2010, to the same seat his brother Rob vacated to run for mayor. He decided not to run for re-election in 2014, saying he would instead run his brother's campaign for a second term as mayor. He predicted he would one day run for a provincial office, where his father, Doug Sr., made his mark.
He doesn't get an A for attendance
The first-term councilor missed more than half the body's votes in 2014, and had the third-worst record among his colleagues. On the plus side, he donates his entire Council salary to charity.
He's been the target of drug allegations
The Globe and Mail reported in 2013 that 10 people who grew up with Doug Ford described him as a hashish dealer for several years in the 1980s. He was never charged with any drug offenses, and he vehemently denied the allegations and threatened to sue the newspaper.
He doesn't eat meat
While Rob Ford is a steak lover, Doug is a vegetarian. He's told reporters that he made the move for ethical reasons after working at a meat-packing plant as a teenager.
