The thing is, racist and homophobic comments are nothing new for him, and Ford Nation clearly has condoned (or tacitly endorsed) them in the past. (as Councillor Gord Perks noted in the letter that is circulating)
I really hope Chow is going to run, because I think this multicultural city desperately needs more non-white, non-British-descendent leadership (and non-male too). But I'm also worried about the amount of hatred that will be thrown at her. Sure, it will look like "anti-lefty" anger on the surface, but for many, the real motivation for spewing vitriol at her will be racial hatred.