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Nick Kouvalis
Born
Nectarios Kouvalis

Windsor, Ontario
NationalityCanadian
Other namesNectarios, Nick
Occupation(s)Conservative Political Strategist, Public opinion researcher and strategist for highly regulated industries
Known forCampaign Strategist/ Pollster/ Organizer for Conservative Party of Canada, BC Liberals, Mayors Rob Ford, John Tory and others

Nectarios (Nick) Kouvalis is a principal of both Campaign Research Inc and Campaign Support Ltd. Campaign Research Inc is a full service marketing research, strategic planning and campaign management firm founded in 2003 by Richard Ciano, the former President of the Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario.[1] They are both active members in Canadian politics, helping to elect many politicians across Canada at all 3 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 improbable mayoral win in Canadian history."[2][3] Kouvalis was appointed as Chief of Staff to Mayor-Elect Ford in October 2010.

Kouvalis stepped down as Chief of Staff to 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 was there to help Ford navigate the transition to government, having no intention of staying very long in the job. 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 engage in public affairs work with city councillors.[6]

Kouvalis has also had disputes with Councillor Doug Ford, Jr.[7]

Federal Election 2011

After Kouvalis' resignation in February 2011 from his position with Mayor Ford, Kouvalis was involved in the 2011 federal election campaign. The Conservative Party of Canada - of which he is an active member and strategist - won 32 of 47 ridings in the Greater Toronto Area Districts and Mayor Ford has been credited with helping Stephen Harper attain a Conservative majority government.[8][9][10] After the election, it was revealed that Kouvalis and his firm played a major role in the Conservative success in Ontario, particularly in The Greater Toronto Area.[11][12]

John Tory Campaign for Mayor of Toronto 2014

Kouvalis was the Pollster and Chief Strategist in 2014 for Toronto Mayor John Tory. He was called John Tory's "Ford Whisperer".

Kouvalis also served on Mayor Tory's Transition Team.[13]

Controversies

In 2007, Kouvalis was acquitted[14] 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 if he could kill Watson "with [his] bare hands and get away with it, I would," on July 13, 2005. At the time, he was serving as campaign manager to Conservative candidate Rick Fuschi. Justice Lloyd Dean concluded that the words were simply an "expression of frustration" and merely spoken in the heat of the moment, which often occurs in politics.

In 2011, Kouvalis' firm received a few complaints through the Marketing Research and Intelligence Association over phone calls in Mont Royal. Complaints suggested that Campaign Research had incorrectly implied to voters 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 any scrutiny from the MRIA.[15]

On November 28, 2012, the Toronto Star reported an investigation by the MRIA about the Mont Royal controversy. The MRIA 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.[16] The calls were not of concern to the association, but the ongoing strategic use of Campaign Research's Gold Seal membership in the MRIA brought the action by the group. The MRIA welcomed Campaign Research to still continue their membership in the association.[17]

In April 2016, Kouvalis crashed his car in Tecumseh, Ontario and was charged with impaired operation of a motor vehicle and having a reading of over 80 milligrams for blood alcohol content.[18] After the incident, Kouvalis tweeted that he had been dealing with an alcohol problem since 2011 and that he would "look forward to starting [his] journey to permanent sobriety."[18]

References

  1. ^ Canada News: Richard Ciano elected party president of Ontario Progressive Conservatives. thestar.com (2012-02-12). Retrieved on 2012-06-01.
  2. ^ Köhler, Nicholas. "How Rob Ford won Toronto". Maclean's. Retrieved March 13, 2012.
  3. ^ Grant, Kelly (January 10, 2007). "Nick Kouvalis, the man behind the Ford campaign". The Globe & Mail. Retrieved March 13, 2012.
  4. ^ Alcoba, Natalie (January 21, 2011). "Rob Ford's chief of staff, Nick Kouvalis, stepping down". National Post. Retrieved March 13, 2012.
  5. ^ Ford scored big at first council meeting | Toronto & GTA | News. Toronto Sun (2010-12-17). Retrieved on 2012-06-01.
  6. ^ Hopper, Tristin (September 15, 2011). "Ford's ex-chief of staff now working with 'Not Gravy' campaign". National Post. Retrieved March 13, 2012.
  7. ^ 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.
  8. ^ Peat, Don. (2011-04-29) Ford to back Harper | Decision 2011 | News. Toronto Sun. Retrieved on 2012-06-01.
  9. ^ Canada News: Ford endorses Harper in federal election. thestar.com (2011-04-29). Retrieved on 2012-06-01.
  10. ^ Marcus Gee – The Globe and Mail. M.theglobeandmail.com. Retrieved on 2012-06-01.
  11. ^ Will Ford factor translate to federal election. InsideToronto Article (2011-04-26). Retrieved on 2012-06-01.
  12. ^ Del Mastro's robocalls confused voters, says Ont. Liberal. canada.com (2011-05-02). Retrieved on 2012-06-01.
  13. ^ http://www.thestar.com/news/city_hall/toronto2014election/2014/10/28/mayorelect_john_tory_names_his_transition_team.html
  14. ^ [1]
  15. ^ McGregor, Glen (December 16, 2011). Ottawa Citizen https://web.archive.org/web/20120214020758/http://www.ottawacitizen.com/business/Cotler+calls+spark+complaints+against+polling+firm/5868286/story.html. Archived from the original on February 14, 2012. Retrieved March 13, 2012. {{cite news}}: Missing or empty |title= (help); Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  16. ^ 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)
  17. ^ http://www.mria-arim.ca/NEWS/PDF/ComplaintsReport_CampaignResearch.pdf
  18. ^ a b Powell, Betsy (April 18, 2016). "Nick Kouvalis, who helped put Ford and Tory in office, charged with impaired driving". Toronto Star. Retrieved 18 April 2016.
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