Mayoral debt fundraiser tentatively set for Jan. 27

Organizers of a "unity dinner" aimed at paying off some or all of the campaign debts of mayor-elect Rob Ford and his main rivals are eyeing Thursday Jan. 27 for the event. Tickets could go on sale as early as this week.

But the idea of one big event with proceeds being split between the participants (confirmed interest has come from Ford, Rocco Rossi, Sarah Thomson and Giorgio Mammoliti, with George Smitherman essentially debt-free and Joe Pantalone not interested) is proving problematic.

One of the politicos involved tells The Goods that election rules provide for donors to get partial rebates from the city only on donations toward a particular candidate. That means, the politico said, there will be "a somewhat complicated means of selling tickets as each purchase/donation must support one candidate only (ie you can't sell one ticket on behalf of a group of candidates and pool the money) but there is a goal of addressing several deficits."

Lawyers have been consulted (no shortage of them among this crowd) and it is all being sorted, we're told.

Ford ran up the biggest debt -- about $650,0000 -- but as the winner has by far the biggest drawing power. Thomson’s debt is about $100,000; Rossi owes about $40,000. Giorgio Mammoliti’s debt is unknown.

No venue is booked yet. Don't expect a star-studded gala with high-priced entertainment. We're told a fairly traditional fundraising dinner is all that's planned at the moment.

Movers-and-shakers involved include: Doug Ford, John Tory, Ralph Lean, Andy Pringle, David Peterson and Mike Harris.