It was on a Sunday Too

A meeting organized by Susan Walmer prior to the last election, was sponsored by a Coalition of Ratepayers Association also organized by Ms Walmer.

It was held in the Town Hall. It was commonly known Ms.Walmer was campaigning for election of Ms.Morris to the Mayor's chair.

Tim Jones was the incumbent. Nigel Keane was also a challenger.

There was a sense of unease. The organizer could not be impartial. Boycott was not an option.

Councillor Gaertner and myself were the only incumbents in the race for Council. Ms. MacEachern had been a Councillor in the previous term.

The Chamber was full to capacity . Children were there with their parents. I took assurance from that.

The only thing to watch for was jokery-pokery with the process or planted questions.

The late and former Mayor Dick Illingworth participated . He read out the
questions. No concerns there.

Mayoralty candidates had separate questions and longer to respond. That's normal.

Twenty candidates were in the race. It would be difficult to contrive mischief with that number.

Still... the association was there. I knew it would be tricky . I just had no idea the extent.

My question was about development in the Oak Ridges Moraine.

My answer was straight.

" The question is not as simple as it sounds" I said "there are properties within the Moraine with land use designations. The only way development can be halted, is if the properties are purchased by the Province. They've done it in Richmond Hill. They have not opted to do it in Aurora"

I probably added that I would abide by the law in the best interest of the municipality.

My answer would have been the same no matter where that query was posed..

It was then directed to candidate Al Wilson. In loud and ringing tones he declared he would never permit development on the Oak Ridges Moraine.

Ah...So, I thought. Was that it ?

But we weren't finished.

Ms MacEachern's name was called . The question was whether she had ever known anyone to vote who had a Conflict of Interest.

She said:

"I can't believe I am being asked that question"

Yeah right...I thought. There it is .... here it comes.

I remembered a line of the lawyer representing U.S. President Clinton in the impeachment process.

He said;

"When they say it isn't about the money...it's about the money "

When MacEachern said she couldn't believe she was being asked that question ...she knew she was going to be asked that question.

The candidate was not a member of the previous Council. Gaertner and I were the only incumbents.

No other candidate could have responded to the question...yeah or nay. They had never been on Council.

Who could have given that answer to that question?

Nobody, that's who.

MacEachern answered in the affirmative.

In an in-camera meeting, she claimed, Mayor Jones declared a Conflict and refrained from voting when a union contract settlement was presented for approval.

Though not a union member, Mayor Jones' spouse was a town employee.

The candidate further claimed when the question came up a second time, a conflict was not declared.

Tim Jones lost the election. Votes in the east side of town, where increased voltage in
overhead wires were of serious concern, made the difference.

It's doubtful the accusation changed things. But for me, it was a sign of things to come. It illustrated the depth the candidate and friends were prepared to go in their quest for power.

Of equal significance though, was public reference by a previous member of council , to an occurrence behind closed doors that dealt with labour negotiations. It was confidential.

No records were kept.

The charge could neither be substantiated nor defended.

The contract was settled long since. Yet the information did not belong to the candidate to disseminate as she saw fit.

Yet she did. In public. To an audience of electors.

In contravention of rules regularly touted by the candidate ,now Councillor, these past several years.