Rob Ford was elected mayor of Toronto in the 2010 municipal election after promising voters he'd "end the gravy train" of spending at city hall. The youngest of four children, he was born in Etobicoke in 1969 and was first elected to city council in 2000 representing Ward 2 Etobicoke North. Ford won the mayoral race with 47 per cent of the vote, easily defeating his nearest rival, George Smitherman at 35.6 per cent. His first term as mayor has been notable for a number of controversies, his ongoing refusal to speak to the Toronto Star, his refusal to attend Toronto's Pride Celebrations, his clash outside his home with CBC's Mary Walsh (and then later Toronto Star reporter Daniel Dale), and his failed weight-loss campaign.