Barbs & Jabs

Marrying business with politics

Should a marriage counsellor be hired for the duration of the election campaign?
According to blog readers, two of our mayor candidates are facing marital conflicts.
Since I’m a big snoop, I’ve checked to see if there really is trouble in political paradise. 
Yes, Aurora incumbent Mayor Tim Jones’ wife works for the town.
Sorry to disappoint. But, since Aurora falls under the umbrella of democracy, the mayor’s wife can work anywhere she chooses, including for the town. It’s all linked to this Canada being a free country thing.
The only time the mayor’s wife’s employment comes into question is when Aurora council deals with town employees’ salaries.
Does Mayor Jones declare a conflict under the Municipal Conflict of Interest Act and refrain from voting during the town’s salary talks?
The answer is yes.
Yes, Yes, Yes: King Township Mayor Margaret Black’s husband, Brian Beatty, owns an engineering company that did some sub-contract consulting work for York Region in 2000 and 2001.
Did Mayor Black declare a conflict under the Municipal Conflict of Interest Act and refrain from voting when this particular contract work was discussed at York  Region council?
The answer, again, is yes. 
In the Black-Beatty case, I dug a little deeper with the hope of burying this old, dead issue once and for all.   
Still, when Nancy Hopkinson of King Township wrote this week that Ms Black’s husband received “to the tune of $1.6 million”  from regional contracts, my old nose almost broke into a snort. 
My snooping included a phone call or two. If you want to ask where I get my information, here’s the answer: It’s none of your business. 
Sorry, Ms Black’s husband did not make the Millionaires Club via York Region.
Beatty and Associates earned about $200,000 after being hired as a consultant by the company that landed the contract with York Region.
Mr. Beatty’s take-home pay for the sub contract work covering the two years was about $50,000.
Are the Beatty-Blacks rolling in dough?
The Black of the Beatty-Black earned a town-regional combined salary of  $80,000 a year.
Yes, so far it suggests the Beatty-Black take-home pay takes them home.
Here’s something I did flush out: Mr. Beatty was a farm boy. He was forced into becoming an engineer when he developed a severe allergy to hay.
How much does the Beatty of the Beatty-Black partnership bring to the table?
The answer is, “It’s nobody’s business.”
I did, however, find yet another cushion in the mayor’s house.
Mrs. Black works about five hours a week in her law practice. I’d wager a bet that Black makes more money working five hours a-week as a lawyer than she does working 60-hours or more a week as a mayor.
Ain’t life funny?
P.S.
I’ve just fired the marriage counsellor.

Pumpkins predict leadership change

The pumpkin gods have spoken.
Change is in the election wind for Aurora, Newmarket and King Township.
Here are a few clues:
Phyllis Morris is squealing like a little pig in Aurora.
Diane Springstein is getting her head measured for the crown in Newmarket.
Steve Pellegrini is pounding his chest in King Township.
Since it’s the same old, same old in East Gwillimbury, Jamie Young is taking a nap. 
The results of the election-pumpkin poll held at Newmarket’s Upper Canada Mall, suggest the tide is, indeed, turning. While it’s too early to issue a tsunami warning, I’ll keep you posted.
Here’s how the poll worked: an artist created charicatures of the area’s mayor candidates by using pumpkins and mall visitors cast ballots for their favorite pumpkin.
About 500 voters cast ballots.   
In Newmarket, Diane Springstein ran away with the race with 63 per cent of the vote, compared to 18 per cent for Tony Van Bynen and 17 per cent for Wendy Thibideau, while John Ashworth and Michael Casione got less than 2 per cent each.
Tony take note: If you want to win the election, spend some time in the pumpkin patch.
Aurora’s Phyllis Morris took the lead early in the count and never looked back. Her pumpkin picked up 68 per cent of the vote, while incumbent Tim Jones came away with only 23 per cent.
As soon as Jones learned he’s in troubled water, he threw himself a lifeline and sent this e-mail.
“Nigel (Kean) and I were both at the mall to thank the organizers who arranged the fundraiser (pumpkin poll) — we acknowledge she (Phyllis) was voted to be a pumpkin and we weren’t.”
Tim. Tim. Tim.
Sending a jab and barb e-mail is not the thing to do. By the rules of the election game, which now includes pumpkins, you’re suppose to concede to Phyllis, congratulate her on a dynamic campaign, wish her all the best as the next mayor of Aurora and go home and soak your feet. While you’re at it, give yourself a pat on the back. You did your best.
One thing is certain.
It’s a “keep your day job” message for Aurora’s Nigel Kean. He gained the confidence of a mere 9 per cent. 
The biggest upset was in King Township, where Steve Pellegrini picked up a whopping 71 per cent of the votes cast. Incumbent Margaret Black scored 25 per cent, suggesting she’d better pull that old standby rabbit out of her hat.
With 4 per cent of the vote, poor Mark Healy nearly fell off King Township’s radar screen. Better luck next time.
The pumpkin election does suggest the “Keep East Gwillimbury Young” signs are paying off. The incumbent scored  74 per cent of the vote, signaling a cakewalk for incumbent mayor Jamie Young.

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And now, for my contest.
There’s a tie in the Best Election Signs contest.
The winners are Natalie Helferty, Richmond Hill’s Ward 3 candidate and Theresa McNichol, a York Catholic School Board trustee candidate for Newmarket-East Gwillimbury.
Ms McNichol’s sign includes a big yellow school bus — it suits the school election.
Ms Helferty’s signs show a butterfly and a flower. What they have to do with the election isn’t clear. But, her signs are pretty. At this stage of the election, pretty is good.