Toronto has found a new mayor in moderate conservative John Tory Monday, who was in a tight race with opponent Doug Ford, brother of Rob Ford, the mayor who rose to notoriety in 2013 for his numerous alcohol- and drug-use scandals.

Tory, a former senior executive at cable firm Rogers Communications trumped Ford 40-33 percent, while Olivia Chow was left with 23 percent of the vote.

Like Us on Facebook

The people of Toronto have spoken, Tory said amid cheers from supporters, vowing to bring an end to the paralysis that has plagued city hall in recent years.

They want a leader who sees them as citizens and not just as "taxpayers," he added, a direct gibe at the Fords who had a habit of calling voters "taxpayers."

Amid boos from his supporters, Rob Ford congratulated the new mayor but hinted he may return to take back the post.

The Ford family never gives up, he said, vowing to show proof of that claim in four years.

The former mayor had decided to pass a bid for re-election this year after he was diagnosed with a rare form of cancer. He passed the torch on to his brother Doug, a former city councilman.

Instead, Rob Ford opted to return to his former post as city councilman with the Etobicoke district where he gained a landslide victory on Monday.

Rob Ford won his bid for mayor in 2010 at a time when voters had grown weary of an elitist city hall. His populist approach paired with promises to cut taxes and decrease government spending had appealed to the people.

But Torontonians soon found they got more than what they expected.

Rob Ford's four-year tenure as mayor was marked with scandals involving illegal alcohol and drug use.

In 2013, he admitted to smoking cocaine but refused to step down. While most of his powers were retracted, city hall could not force him out since there was no conviction.

Last April, Rob Ford announced he was entering a rehab following news reports of various excessive alcohol and illegal drug use.

Tory was a former Canadian football league commissioner. He ran for mayor in 2003 but lost.

At his victory speech, Tory called on Torontonians to unite as one city and expressed willingness to work with Rob Ford at the city council.

Tagspolitics, Provinces and territories of Canada, Rob Ford, Ontario, Toronto, Doug Ford, John Tory