What makes you think he’s not a competent businessman? A $20 million lawsuit against him that alleges it?
I don’t recall that being a statement of fact anywhere. By all accounts he is a very competent businessman who grew the family business after his father’s death.
…according to Doug and the Family Ford.
It's only been 12 years since Doug Ford, Sr. died. Deco being a privately owned company, there's little public transparency and thus only Doug's word to go on for its "success". But previous employees of Deco Toronto speak of a different situation. Chicago was profitable for a while, but it was set up while Doug Sr. was still running the company in 1999. Doug Jr. wouldn't get full control of Deco until 2002. Doug Jr. may have been instrumental in setting it up, but Doug Sr. still held his leash.
Then there's Deco New Jersey, Deco Ohio and Deco Florida.
Doug set up Deco offices in Ohio and Florida. They went down in flames, incapable of drumming up more business; in spite of being low-overhead situations (a salesguy and a desk).
Doug also bought a 56-year old printing business in New Jersey called "Wise Tag & Label". The owner wanted out because his illness no longer allowed him to run the company. Doug failed to pay back debts he was contractually obligated to assume when he took over Wise Tag & Label and was sued for compensation from the previous owner's son. Wise was forced to close down in May of last year. Another printing company bought the remaining assets (name, equipment and customer list).
https://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/toronto/doug-ford-at-deco/article21067584/
http://www.labelandnarrowweb.com/co...17-05-24/allen-bailey-acquires-wise-tag-label
Sounds like a great businessman to me.