Before Brad Bradford entered politics, he worked inside Toronto City Hall as an urban planner. Now, the two-term city councillor is seeking to lead the city he once helped plan.
Bradford, who represents Beaches–East York, is challenging incumbent Mayor Olivia Chow in Toronto's Oct. 26 municipal election, campaigning on what he calls the three Cs: crime, congestion and cost.
Born in Hamilton, Bradford was raised by a single mother alongside two siblings. Growing up, he wanted to play hockey, but his mother enrolled him in figure skating because she believed it would cost less.
"I grew up figure skating, and, um, not everybody knows that, but my mom raised three of us on her own," Bradford said during an LGBTQ+ mayoral candidates' forum at Metropolitan Community Church of Toronto.
Bradford earned a master's degree in urban planning from the University of Waterloo, where he researched community-based energy solutions. He later worked for a renewable energy non-profit organization in Boston.
In 2015, Bradford joined Toronto's planning department, working under then-chief planner Jennifer Keesmaat.
He was elected councillor for Ward 19, Beaches–East York, in 2018 and re-elected in 2022. He later served as chair of the city's Planning and Housing Committee under former mayor John Tory.
During his time on council, Bradford supported changes allowing multiplex housing in neighbourhoods previously restricted largely to single-family homes.
He first ran for mayor in the 2023 byelection following Tory's resignation, finishing eighth with 1.28 per cent of the vote.
Public safety is a central priority in Bradford's current campaign.
He has promised to hire 1,000 additional police officers over four years, increase police presence on public transit and establish police outposts at Union Station and Sankofa Square.
However, in 2020, Bradford supported a proposal to reduce the Toronto Police Service budget by 10 per cent.
Transportation is another major focus of his platform.
Bradford wants to remove the Bloor Street West bike lanes between South Kingsway and Resurrection Road, arguing they contribute to congestion and create challenges for local businesses.
He previously voted in favour of the bike lane expansion in 2023 but has since said that decision was wrong.
At the LGBTQ+ forum, Bradford acknowledged that politicians sometimes reconsider their decisions.
"I don't have the answer to every problem," he said. "There's no shortage of examples where maybe I didn't get it right the first time."
Bradford has also proposed TTC fare refunds for riders whose transit vehicles are more than 15 minutes late and wants to prioritize construction of the Eglinton East LRT.
On affordability, Bradford has promised to freeze residential property taxes for one year and eliminate Toronto's municipal land transfer tax on qualifying home purchases up to $1.1 million.
His campaign estimates the land transfer tax proposal could save eligible homebuyers approximately $18,000.
He has also proposed changing how Toronto finances infrastructure and creating a municipally owned water utility, which his campaign says could reduce household water bills by $300 annually.
Chow has criticized his financing proposals, arguing increased borrowing could create financial pressure for future taxpayers.
Bradford's approach to municipal government emphasizes reducing bureaucracy, controlling spending and working with existing community organizations.
At the inclusion forum, he argued that the city should support established non-profits rather than duplicate their services.
"But we don't have to do everything," Bradford said.
Bradford also discussed his personal connection to LGBTQ+ communities through figure skating, recalling his first coach, who had a male partner, and fellow skaters who faced challenges coming out.
When asked what an inclusive Toronto should look like, Bradford emphasized equal access to housing, employment and public services.
"It's a city where everybody feels like they could be a part of it," he said.
Bradford expressed support for transgender rights and committed to continuing municipal funding for Pride Toronto while seeking additional government and corporate support.
"We can't pick and choose our moments as leaders and when to show up," Bradford said. "You got to show up for everybody all the time."
Outside politics, Bradford lives in Beaches–East York with his wife, Kathryn, and their two daughters, Briar and Bronwyn.
For some Toronto residents, affordability remains a major concern heading into the election.
Paige Locke, a second-year fire services student at Humber Polytechnic, said she wants candidates to focus on making the city more affordable.
"Rent is so expensive, and I think the next mayor needs to focus on making Toronto a place where young people can actually afford to live," Locke said.
She said she also wants to know more about Bradford's record as a councillor.
"I want to know what he's actually done, not just what he's promising," she said.
As election day approaches, Bradford is presenting his experience in urban planning and municipal politics as part of his case for changing how Toronto operates.
