Nick Kouvalis
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Nick Kouvalis | |
|---|---|
| Born | Nectarios Kouvalis Windsor, Ontario |
| Nationality | Canadian |
| Occupation(s) | Conservative Political Strategist, Public opinion researcher and strategist for highly regulated industries |
| Known for | Conservative Party Political Operative, Campaign Manager to Rob Ford, Chief of Staff to Mayor of Toronto |
Nectarios (Nick) Kouvalis is the principal partner of Campaign Research, a full service marketing research, strategic planning and campaign management firm founded in 2003 by Richard Ciano. Ciano is currently the President of the Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario[1]. They are both active members of the Canadian political scene. Their firm has helped elect many politicians across Canada at all levels of government.
Rob Ford Campaign for Mayor of Toronto
Kouvalis was the campaign manager in 2010 for Toronto Mayor Rob Ford. He is often credited with the success of the campaign, referred to as "the most improbably mayoral win in Canadian history."[2][3] Kouvalis was appointed to Chief of Staff to the Mayor Elect in October 2010.
Kouvalis stepped down as Chief of Staff for Mayor Ford in February 2011, citing the need to spend more time with his family. Mayor Ford's brother, Councillor Doug Ford, Jr., said that Kouvalis remained "loyal" to the brothers. It is believed that Kouvalis had no intention of staying very long in the job of Chief of Staff, rather he was just there to help Ford navigate the transition to government. While Kouvalis was at Mayor Ford's side, Mayor Ford was able to easily move his agenda items[4][5].
Despite his ties to the mayor's office, Campaign Research was hired in 2011 by Toronto firefighters opposing Mayor Ford's cuts. Campaign Research provided Public Opinion Research and Campaign Support Services while Sussex Strategies was hired to lobby City Councillors.[6] He has also had disputes with Councillor Doug Ford, Jr.[7]
Federal Election 2011
Kouvalis' exit from the Mayor's Office in Toronto at the end of February 2011 seems like it was perfectly timed for the Federal Election of 2011 which began at the end of March 2011. The Conservative Party of Canada won 32 of 47 Greater Toronto Area Districts and Mayor Ford has been credited with helping Stephen Harper attain a Conservative Majority Government.[8][9][10] It was many months later when it was revealed that Kouvalis and his firm played a major role in Ontario and specifically Toronto.[11][12]
Controversies
In 2007, Kouvalis was tried in the Ontario Court of Justice for allegedly uttering a death threat against Jeff Watson, a Conservative Party of Canada Member of Parliament. Kouvalis was accused of saying he would kill Watson "with my bare hands and get away with it, I would," on July 13, 2005, while he was campaign manager for Conservative candidate Rick Fuschi.[13]
In 2011, Kouvalis' firm received complaints to The Marketing Research and Intelligence Association over phone calls in Mont Royal for suggesting to the public that Irwin Cotler was about to retire. Kouvalis denied any wrongdoing, and stated, "We’re in the business of getting Conservatives elected and ending Liberal careers. We’re good at it”. Kouvalis also welcomed the scrutiny of his professional association the MRIA.[14]
On November 28, 2012, the Toronto Star reported the investigation by the market research industry’s watchdog concluded that the actions of Campaign Research Inc., brought the industry into disrepute. “The actions of Campaign Research have likely caused the Canadian public to lose confidence in marketing research and have tarnished the image of the marketing research profession,” says a ruling by three-member panel of the Market Research and Intelligence Association.[15]
References
- ^ Canada News: Richard Ciano elected party president of Ontario Progressive Conservatives. thestar.com (2012-02-12). Retrieved on 2012-06-01.
- ^ Köhler, Nicholas. "How Rob Ford won Toronto". Maclean's. Retrieved March 13, 2012.
- ^ Grant, Kelly (January 10, 2007). "Nick Kouvalis, the man behind the Ford campaign". The Globe & Mail. Retrieved March 13, 2012.
- ^ Alcoba, Natalie (January 21, 2011). "Rob Ford's chief of staff, Nick Kouvalis, stepping down". National Post. Retrieved March 13, 2012.
- ^ Ford scored big at first council meeting | Toronto & GTA | News. Toronto Sun (2010-12-17). Retrieved on 2012-06-01.
- ^ Hopper, Tristin (September 15, 2011). "Ford's ex-chief of staff now working with 'Not Gravy' campaign". National Post. Retrieved March 13, 2012.
- ^ Davis, Stephen Spencer (March 7, 2012). "QUOTED: Nick Kouvalis politely invites Doug Ford to put a sock in it". Toronto Life. Retrieved March 13, 2012.
- ^ Peat, Don. (2011-04-29) Ford to back Harper | Decision 2011 | News. Toronto Sun. Retrieved on 2012-06-01.
- ^ Canada News: Ford endorses Harper in federal election. thestar.com (2011-04-29). Retrieved on 2012-06-01.
- ^ Marcus Gee – The Globe and Mail. M.theglobeandmail.com. Retrieved on 2012-06-01.
- ^ Will Ford factor translate to federal election. InsideToronto Article (2011-04-26). Retrieved on 2012-06-01.
- ^ Del Mastro's robocalls confused voters, says Ont. Liberal. canada.com (2011-05-02). Retrieved on 2012-06-01.
- ^ "Tory campaign worker accused of death threat against MP". Windsor Star. January 10, 2007. Retrieved March 13, 2012.
- ^ McGregor, Glen (December 16, 2011). Ottawa Citizen http://www.ottawacitizen.com/business/Cotler+calls+spark+complaints+against+polling+firm/5868286/story.html. Retrieved March 13, 2012.
{{cite news}}: Missing or empty|title=(help) [dead link] - ^ Bryden, Joan (November 28, 2012). Toronto Star http://www.thestar.com/news/canada/politics/article/1294704--tory-pollster-rebuked-for-misleading-campaign-against-mp-irwin-cotler. Retrieved November 29, 2012.
{{cite news}}: Missing or empty|title=(help)