"Cowardice asks the question...is it safe? Expediency asks the question...is it politic? Vanity asks the question...is it popular? But conscience asks the question...is it right? And there comes a time when one must take a position that is neither safe, nor politic, nor popular but one must take it because it is right." ~Dr. Martin Luther King

Friday 3 April 2015

A THANK YOU OUTSTANDING

A resurrected forty year old photo on Facebook stirs memories of a long and friendly association. Ron Wallace was at the start of his career and recently relocated from North Bay. 

The story foremost in my mind now is more recent.  

The Mayor and five members of 2006/10 Council  expended $43,000  public resources to retain a lawyer to read two of my blog posts for material to file a complaint with a new Integrity Commissioner.  

No provision exists in Code of Conduct legislation for a Council to file a complaint.

A statement of complaint prepared by the lawyer was filed by Councillor Al Wilson.

The Mayor and four other Councillors attached their names and in a public meeting of Council, by formal resolution, directed staff to publish the statement in the Aurora Banner, The Auroran, and on the Town's web site. 

The statement was published in both newspapers. 

Ron Wallace went further. He read the blogs and  found no words to support the complaint filed by Councillor Wilson. 

A news story to that effect was published in The Auroran alongside the statement signed by six members of Council. 

The complaint was refuted in The Auroran. 

The Integrity Commissioner was second to come to the same conclusion. He dismissed it and found it had been made for "purely political purpose"

After a six hour meeting of the six signatories, the Integrity Commissioner was "stripped of his authority" 

It was his first and only decision.

The Municipal Clerk, with a five year contract signed nine months previously, provided me a copy of the decision as required by process.

The following day, an e-mail circulated by the Chief Administrative Officer informed of the Clerk's decision to take early retirement to spend more time with her family. 

A public relations firm was retained at public expense  to ameliorate damage caused by the decision of the Integrity Commissioner that six people used the process for purely political purposes. 

Soon it will  be six years since Ron Wallace and The Auroran set things straight. 

I'm not sure I thanked him.  

I am setting that straight right now. 

Thank you my friend, I am forever in your debt.

31 comments:

Anonymous said...

I was just thinking about Ron the other day.
We had asked him if there was a chance we could get Scott J to run in the election. He replied that there was no way he would allow that. As I enjoy Scott's cartoons & articles these days, I appreciate Ron's refusal. Scott is perfect doing his own thing.

Theresa Buck said...

And a god friend he has been for many years, he has a special place in our family and in our hearts. Thank you to both Ron and you mom for all that you have contributed to the Town of Aurora, you of all people did not deserve the horrific actions of those six despicable people. Ron Wallace you are truly a man of integrity.

Anonymous said...

It was sooo funny when a big deal was made over you whapping him on the head with the Auroran. By those who did not understand the history.

Anonymous said...

that gang of six will soon get what they deserve once the lawsuit is settled.

Anonymous said...

Aurora and it residents have been luck to have your mom and Ron around to look after us all and not to the chosen few.

myonlyphoto said...

Evelyn thanks for sharing your story. Happy Easter! Anna

David Heard said...

I owe Ron a big thank you for giving me a chance to write during a a tough period in our community.

Anonymous said...

Who is Al wilson ?

Anonymous said...

David....

You make it sound as though the Nazis had taken over the Town. What are we, 5 years since their term was up, are we really in a worse position than if they were not in charge? From my memory, every council has done things that can considered negative.

In 10 - 15 more years, the Mormac era will not be any different than any other term of council.

Anonymous said...

Thank you 8:16 you made my day and more.

Anonymous said...

To 8:34 Name me another term, or Mayor who used tax payers money to sue residents.

Anonymous said...

To 8:34 The gang of six were a nasty bunch and I guess you do not know the whole story.They were like no other past present future I am sure.

Anonymous said...

9:52
Poison-pen Wilson ?

Anonymous said...

17:52
Or another town that made the international news. Even Brampton does not come close to the press coverage of that debacle.

Anonymous said...

17:54, 18:15

You may have these opinions because you are a Buckeroo. If you were to take off your blinders for a while and lok up what has gone on before, you will be surprised I am sure.

Regarding not knowing the whole story? I know the whole story. My God we have heard it here over and over for 5 years.

We also have a member of council that was one of the "six". She may not be the brightest bulb in the box but right now, she has the most council experience of those sitting around that table. She must be doing something right.

Anonymous said...

Thank you 7:45 but are you related to the former.

Anonymous said...

10:29
No I am not - why should that matter?

A person can have an opinion. Just because it is not the same as your's you have to lower yourself to comments like that? How mature.

Anonymous said...

7:45 Good morning to you too.
A defamation suit against residents by a sitting mayor ?
Where else ?
And do not refer to Grossi. He sued staff.

Anonymous said...

10:46
As a Buckeroo, you need to use the proper terms.

The sitting mayor did not simply sue residents, she sued three "families" (although the documents only lists three individuals) and then had the papers served as these families were sitting down to Thanksgiving dinner.

It's all very Norman Rockwell if you think about it. Prime for the TV movie of the week - or at least the ABC After School Special.

In case you need more reading, here you go. Some headlines...


"With just nine days to go until the municipal election, Vision Vancouver Mayor Gregor Robertson is suing his main rival, Non-Partisan Association mayoral candidate Kirk LaPointe, for defamation over comments and political ads regarding a union donation to the mayor’s party."

=================

" Brossard residents will have to pay over half a million dollars to former mayor Jean-Marc Pelletier, who has won his defamation lawsuit against seven municipal councillors."

==========

"Jeff Johnston, a vocal critic of Petrolia Mayor John McCharles, was described in court Monday as acting antagonistic during his town council appearances.

Both men are claiming defamation of character by the other at the ongoing trial.

Johnston is suing McCharles for $10,000 for defamation, claiming McCharles implied he was liar in a newspaper article.

McCharles is suing Johnston for $25,000 claiming damage to his reputation through a video posted on You Tube where Johnston called him a thief."

==========

"Mulmur Township Deputy Mayor Rhonda Campbell Moon has filed a second lawsuit against three of her fellow elected representatives and the municipality as a whole, according to a statement of claim filed at the Orangeville court office in January and received by Mulmur clerk Terry Horner on June 19."


The point of these quotes. The "former" was nothing special. You need to get over yourselves.

Anonymous said...

*slow clap* Well-played, 12:39.

Anonymous said...

12 :39 your points are bogus as none are a sitting member against families.

Anonymous said...

12:39
Uh, s'cuse me, please. Most of those cases were politicians suing other politicians. None of those sued by the former were even running for office.

Anonymous said...



What historical crap this all is.

People - get a life!

Anonymous said...

You must be new to this Town

Anonymous said...

She sure does. Panders to the 30% electorate, and when she does open her mouth in public...she's a clown. She can be very entertaining.

Anonymous said...

Which makes it even more discussing.

Anonymous said...

There are people in this Town still recovering from this dispicable act the former and her followers pulled in that term. Suits are still on going. Your taxes are still being used to right all these wrongs. Next time it could be you who gets served. You'll then try to dig up all this "historical crap" and try to put your life back together.

Anonymous said...

I guess most of the Buckeroos live in Egypt. Because they are always in D'Nile.......

The headlines I quoted are very real and are very easy to find with a simple Google search.

For those that claim they are bogus because 1. they are not against families or 2. they are against political rivals, well you can't have cake and eat it too.

18:07 - you fail to see my sarcasm about "families". None of the lawsuits are against families because the families did not do anything. The lawsuits are against individuals. The real "bogus" thing is that Evelyn likes to tug on your heartstrings to say the families were sued. of course SHE is suing individuals... not families.

18:34 - The challenge was to find examples of "Name me another term, or Mayor who used tax payers money to sue residents". I would think that if a political rival was being sued, they too are residents.

Anonymous said...

What a load of poop 7:47.You MUST be related to the former.

Anonymous said...

23:45
Really?

Yes, I am very worried that I will be served papers for what has been said on a blog. I would think the likes of Watts and Evelyn should be more worried than I.

Of course, if she was truly corrupt, rather than use the courts, she could have paid to have them off'ed.

Anonymous said...

10:11
Why is there a need for people to assume a family relationship to the former because there is a contrary opinion?

For the record, I am not.

I guess you are related to Evelyn.