Man facing drug charges hoped ‘friend’ Rob Ford would help secure city job:dox

TORONTO – Court documents show a man charged in a drug investigation hoped his friendship with Toronto Mayor Rob Ford would help him get a job with the city.

Alexander Lisi, 35, was charged with four drug offences, including trafficking marijuana, earlier this month.

Media reports have described Lisi as an occasional driver for the mayor, and Ford himself has called him a friend and a “good guy.”

Documents show Ford vouched for his friend in a separate case this summer, praising his “exceptional leadership skills” and “great work ethic” in a letter filed with the court.

The letter was part of a report prepared by a probation officer after Lisi was convicted of threatening to kill a woman.

Another section of the report says Lisi’s future plans include “working for the City of Toronto with the endorsement of his ‘close friend,’ Mayor Robert Ford.”

The Toronto Star reported earlier this year that Lisi was looking for a video that allegedly showed Ford using crack cocaine.

Ford has said he does not use crack cocaine and that the alleged video does not exist.

The allegation surfaced in May 16 when reporters from the Star and the U.S. website Gawker reported they were shown the video.