Controversial Toronto mayor seeks re-election

Mr Ford was the first candidate to show up at City Hall when registration opened yesterday for the city’s municipal election on October 27.

He promised “Ford more years,” the Toronto Star reported. He also called himself “the best mayor this city has ever had”.

“If you want to get personal, that’s fine,” Mr Ford told reporters, according to the Star. “I’m sticking to my record, and talk is cheap. You’re going to see action like you’ve never seen before.”

He was more restrained on Twitter, tweeting a photo of himself signing up to run again and saying simply: “Just filed my paperwork for the 2014 election. Vote on October 27.”

The conservative mayor of Canada’s largest city has said he would run again, even after the revelations last year about his drug use.

Mr Ford has faced intense pressure to resign over that and other erratic behaviour that has embarrassed many Canadians.

Toronto City Council has stripped him of most of his powers, but he continues to receive support from some in the city’s more conservative suburbs. He first won as mayor by promising to “stop the gravy train” of government spending.