"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 11 September 2015

I DO NOT DENY

It's true. I only knew former Councillor MacEachern as a politician. My  negative experience started early.

In 2003, I registered as a candidate a week before cut-off. The late Councillor West filed around the same time.

Having already served a term, Former Councillor Mac Eachern had already registered.

When late registrations were announced, The Councillor immediately withdrew with a statement to the press that when she learned who was running she decided she had better things to do , like spending time with her children.

I  learned my younger brother was seriously ill. He lived long enough to know I had been re-elected. He was so proud to inform the nurses taking care of him. 

It was the last positive thing in his life. I spent his last days and nights by his side in Joseph
Brant hospital in Burlington. 

I wasn't much focussed on politics. 

At the last Council meeting of the term, Councillor Mac Eachern moved a re-count of the votes. 

I was last elected. If there was doubt about the target of her hostility at the time of registration,there was none now.  

The Councillor had urged outgoing  David Griffith to request a re-count. He did not choose to do so. The motion was made by Councillor MacEachern,also outgoing, and seconded by re-elected  Councillor Vrancic. 

Speaking to the motion, Councillor Vrancic  said he had no wish to sit at the Council table for the next three years with someone who had no right to be there. The vote carried. I was in the Council Chamber.

At the  Inaugural meeting, the re-count was pending. 

 My thoughts were elsewhere. 

The re-count was held in January without change. 

The difference between myself and the runner-up was forty-one votes. 

The same as between myself and Councillor Pirri in the last election. 

Enough to reflect the choice of the  electorate. 

No apology was offered for the suggestion I might have no right to occupy a seat.  

No attempt to  repair or mask the hostility. 

Aurora's reputation is for robust politics. I take pride in being a part of that. I  always felt it was where I was meant to be. It was my spiritual home. I seldom started a  political battle but I never ever backed away. 

I deny responsibility for the vitriolic meanness of spirit that permeated town affairs to the exclusion of all else  and harm to so many victims during the Mormac years 

That was never part of Aurora's tradition. 

8 comments:

Anonymous said...

So many have been elected who did not take those specials classes in procedure.
I think just knowing how to do the job would prevent a lot of the snarliness we see around the table,

Anonymous said...



Vinci defeats Williams in the "greatest tennis upset of the 21st century."

The odds on this happening were 300 to 1.

It's great to see the odds-makers take a hit.

Aurora residents, those who pay municipal taxes and those who don't, have been taking hits for years from inept members of council and staff, and the bill just keeps getting larger.

'Tis the bills that are increasingly robust and no one seems capable of getting them under control.

Anonymous said...

Don't know if that they're not capable, but you can see agenda's very early in a term.

Anonymous said...

Evelyn,

I think it is safe to say that you have had a significant impact on this Town and made a wonderful, unparalleled contribution throughout your years in public service while on Council, and even as a member of the general public. I am curious however why you are so angry with select people and why you take such unprovoked attacks at them. If their perceived wrongs are in the past, why bring them up now? Why not move on with life and continue to make your positive contribution? In general, why the negativity? When you provide context or history or a different perspective on issues of policy or procedure, the gift you provide to all of us is great, but when you attack individuals it weakens your message and voice. It is also hurtful I'm sure.

Anonymous said...


The Star

Brantford-area farmer carves "Anybody but Harper!!" into his field

"People flying over John Langs' farm know exactly how the retired civil servant feels about the upcoming election.

Langs plowed "Anybody but Harper" into the 46-acre rye field on his farm in Burford, Ont.

Each letter is 100 metres high, he said, and the sign only took about 45 minutes of his time - with the aid of a tractor and a disc. The letters are so big it can only be read from the sky."

Anonymous said...

An unhappy retired civil servant? Unreal!

Anonymous said...

Why is when someone uses all of the rules at their disposal (measuring the amount of pine tar on a baseball bat, the curve of a hockey stick, or the ability to force a recount in an election) their are deemed to be hostile or require a apology? My goodness, they know the rules and they are playing the "game". Part of the game is to understand the rules and how to use them to your advantage. Is that not the purpose?

Anonymous said...

8:02- Taking advantage of the rules to your advantage eh? I suppose your right if your inclined to taking advantage of people, I suppose you can too. People with integrity do not.