‘Inappropriate relationship’ with university student fuels decision not to proceed

“His mayoralty campaign ends today.”

With those words – read to a room full of cameras and reporters by his longtime aide Kevin Beaulieu – embattled city councillor, TTC chair and mayoralty candidate Adam Giambrone withdrew from the mayor’s race.

The words came just minutes after a shaken Giambrone had fled the Wednesday morning news conference. He had stood in front of reporters to apologize to the public, his partner and his supporters for lying about a year-long affair with a 19-year-old university student and an undisclosed number of other women.

He stopped reading from his prepared notes just short of announcing that he’d be withdrawing from the race that he’d officially joined just a week and a half earlier. Flanked by his campaign team, Giambrone hurried down a stairwell to the basement of city hall, where city councillors have secure parking spots.

Minutes later, Beaulieu returned to read the final two paragraphs of the speech.

“He will spend the next few days in private,” read Beaulieu, paraphrasing the words on the page. “His mayoralty campaign ends today. Beginning next week he will return to his normal duties as a city councillor. He will focus with renewed energy on the transformation of the TTC and on building Transit City for the people of Toronto. Adam would like to thank his friends and supporters who have helped him through these painful days.”

Giambrone had made his apologies before leaving, reading with head bowed from the first part of his statement.

“There are weeks in politics that change your life, and this one certainly has changed mine,” said Giambrone. “This has taught me that a public career of integrity cannot survive deceit in your private life. My mistakes have caused hurt to my partner Sarah, my family, my friends and my supporters. To them, who I have treated disrespectfully, in front of you, I humbly apologize.”

He went on to apologize to his colleagues on Toronto Council, “for the negative attention I brought them and this chamber. I want to apologize to the communities across this city. And I want to apologize to the young people. It is my sincere hope that they can continue to believe in themselves and their abilities to make positive change.”

Giambrone was able to read out an apology to his partner, Sarah McQuarrie, before he cut his portion of the announcement short.

“I deeply apologize to my partner Sarah,” he said. “The pain she has had to endure for my mistakes is deeply unfair to her. She has shown a lot of strength in all of this, which has only deepened my respect for her.”

Giambrone’s swift departure left his fellow councillors stunned. On Tuesday, his campaign manager John Laschinger, who formerly ran David Miller’s successful mayoralty campaigns, said the revelation of the affair with now-20-year-old Kirsten Lucas wouldn’t dissuade Giambrone from running. At that point, Giambrone had denied allegations from the university student that the two had consummated a sexual relationship, frequently having relations on the couch in his office.

He only admitted to an “inappropriate relationship” in which they exchanged text messages and met in public.

In one of those text messages, he claimed his partner Sarah McQuarrie was only on his arm in public for political reasons having to do with his mayoral bid.

But on Tuesday night, Giambrone admitted to the Toronto Star that he has had several affairs in recent years.

Councillors who spoke on the record said Giambrone had done the right thing by stepping away from the campaign.

“Politics is a tough business – it truly is a bloodsport,” said Howard Moscoe, a former TTC Chair himself. Moscoe said Giambrone need not step down as chair of the Toronto Transit Commission because of the scandal.

“I don’t think it will hurt or help the TTC if he steps down,” he said. “The TTC will continue. Most people consider it to be important and Giambrone’s done a relatively good job.”

Scarborough Southwest Councillor Brian Ashton had earlier been calling for Giambrone to step down as chair of the TTC. But in light of his decision not to run for mayor, Ashton said it was possible for him to continue.

“If he feels he can devote his time to this issue and has the complete confidence of the mayor, that’s up to him,” said Ashton.

He said Giambrone’s abrupt departure was understandable.

“This individual, as a human being, has been through an enormous amount of pressure,” said Ashton. “He’s a very young man. It’s difficult to contain his emotions and he’s trying to come to terms with the myriad of things that have happened. It’s dashed his hopes to become mayor, he’s got serious problems at home, and it’s just overwhelming. I feel for him that way – I really do.”

Mayor David Miller offered a brief written statement regarding the resignation.

“Councillor Giambrone’s decision to leave the mayoralty race is regrettable. His voice and the vision he could have brought to this important campaign will be missed but his decision to focus on his private life and his current duties is understandable,” he said.

– David Nickle

Posted in Mayoral race, News