Friday, November 14, 2014

Mayoral candidates angered by slate in Summerland - Penticton Herald November 13, 2014

Posted: Thursday, November 13, 2014 6:31 pm | Updated: 7:24 pm, Thu Nov 13, 2014. SUSAN McIVER

http://www.pentictonherald.ca/news/article_46652596-6ba6-11e4-ab9c-a7fee7c4ba38.html

Candidates are crying foul about a campaign flyer claiming to be a representative ballot for tomorrow’s municipal election in Summerland. The flyer was delivered as an insert in Thursday's Summerland Review. “This is the same sort of garbage that plagued the 2008 election with Summerland being one of five B.C. communities that were suspected of election irregularities,” said mayoral candidate Peter Waterman. The flyer lists all five names of the mayoral candidates and 12 of the 15 candidates for councillor positions. Names of the preferred candidate for mayor and the six councillors are in large bold letters with a large check sign beside each. The other names are in small letters. The names of three candidates for councillor, Erin Carlson, Denise MacDonald and Dan Papadopoulos, are not listed. “This is an ad for a slate—preferred candidates indicated, others in small type and others not even listed,” Waterman said. “I know personally that at least two of the candidates for councillor—Erin Trainer and Joel Gregg—endorsed on the list were not asked for their permission and they are hurt and fell betrayed,” said mayoral candidate Roch Fortin. In an interview, Orv Robson who was endorsed for mayor said he had no knowledge that his name would be included on the flyer. “This was same approach that took place in the last two elections. And these people helped elect the present council,” said mayoral candidate David Gregory. The flyer is authorized by Citizens for Smart Governance, a registered sponsor under the Local Elections Campaign Finance Act, and gives contact information as smartgov@shaw.ca. “When you go to the website the names of Robert MacDonald and Mark Ziebarth come up. Ziebarth was associated with the suspected irregularity in 2008,” Waterman said. Ziebarth is a business instructor at Okanagan College and is also active in Helena Konanz's campaign for city council in Penticton. “The fact that the group is a registered body makes this type of ad no less odious. I for one would not my name associated with this group, but it was there and without my consent,” Waterman said. “I hope that voters take the time to meet and read about the candidates and make their own choices based on the qualifications and integrity of people running for office and not because their names appear on some sort of slate,” Fortin said.

http://www.pentictonherald.ca/news/article_46652596-6ba6-11e4-ab9c-a7fee7c4ba38.html

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