Town's compete for Dirty Politics Award

Markham mayoralty candidate Sam Orrico is in jail.
In Vaughan, there have been hints of sex scandals, red light-running, ticket-fixing, crashing cars into other politicians, funny money rumours, multi-million dollar lawsuits, people fearing legs will break and weird e-mails landing on the mayor’s porch. 
Let’s deal with Sam first. It’s easier. 
Sam is charged with threatening to harm rival candidate Frank Scarpitti.
The alleged threat was made through a third party, York Regional Police report.
Sam is being held in custody and is scheduled to make a video appearance at a remand hearing tomorrow.
Campaigning from jail is not without its challenges. Sam could touch base with former Newmarket council candidate Bill Andrews. In 2000, Andrews campaigned for a seat on Newmarket council while under house arrest. He’d been convicted of stealing $500,000 from the town. Andrews had access to the money. He was Newmarket’s recreation director.
Andrews did as was expected: He lost the election.
I fear that by getting arrested, Sam has seriously damaged his chances of  being mayor of Markham.
Vaughan, meanwhile, never stays quiet for long.
A while ago, somebody hacked into Vaughan mayoralty candidate Linda Jackson’s e-mail. Then these e-mails turned up on incumbent Mayor Michael Di Biase’s porch.
I’m jealous: the only thing that lands on my porch is the neighbour’s cat.
Di Biase said the e-mails between Jackson and an unidentified York Regional Police officer track improper and potentially illegal disclosures of information. 
As well, media reports have suggested somebody at Vaughan’s city hall made an inappropriate pass at somebody else.
Since the parties were not identified, there’s some doubt the sex scandal even took place. In fairness, it’s quite possible nobody’s having sex in Vaughan.
Back to the e-mails.
Apparently, the e-mails detail how a city employee misled police investigators probing the city’s fleet services department two years ago.
In the $7-million lawsuit, former city worker Paul Donofrio alleged a conflict began when he was asked by his immediate supervisor to send Vaughan vehicles to a Mississauga company for service, even though the city had a policy of using Vaughan companies.
Donofrio said when he refused to sign the work order, a supervisor threatened to break his legs.
The investigation ended without criminal charges. But the lawsuit remains unsettled.
The e-mail fiasco prompted Di Biase to call the cops. Then the media called the cops.
When asked if he was concerned if the York Regional Police was being used as a pawn in a political smear campaign against Ms Jackson, Police Chief Armand La Barge said the force’s role is to thoroughly investigate any and all complaints in the midst of an election campaign or not.
Take note: instead of saying, “I’d rather hang myself with a new rope,” our police chief took the politically correct approach.
The goings on in Vaughan certainly gives Aurora a run for its money. At least in Aurora  the politicians limit themselves to calling each other “stupid,” swatting each other with newspapers and lunging at each other in the council chambers.  To date, no knees have been broken, no sex scandals have surfaced, nobody’s suing the town for millions and e-mails from mayoralty candidate Phyllis Morris are not being wrapped in brown paper and landing on incumbent Mayor Tim Jones’ porch in the dead of night. 
In case you think such troubles are limited to York Region, just look to the north. Last night, a candidate running for Barrie council was arrested on child porn charges.
Or, look to the east where the incumbent mayor of Clarington is facing an uphill battle on the campaign trail. A few weeks ago, Durham Regional Police charged Mayor John Mutton with assault.
Democracy —  there’s nothing like it. But sometimes, a big broom is needed. 

Comments

[Richard Johnson]

Just because no one in Aurora has been caught doing naughty things in back room deals (other than negotiating a contract that appeared from a distance to be a clear conflict of interest), don't think for a second we are in the clear.

The more I learn about our "Community of Characters" the more I am left wondering how we can possibly elect the right council given the smoke and mirrors and spin involved in most political discussions. There is something very Orwellian about all of this.

One would think that all we would have to do is watch council long enough to see who rolls up their sleeves and gets things done (or at least tries) and who, on the other hand is proud if negotiating deals behind closed doors or goes as far as to call for town "assemblies" out of sight and out of mind in order to save face.

May the force be with us all on voting day.