The race for the next mayor of Newmarket begins today.
The question is: Why would anyone want the job?
Tony Van Bynen pulled out all the stops to get the puppet show council he wants for his final term in office. Not a single backbone among the group and that's the sort of supporting cast the mayor needs to push forward with his tax and spend (and tax again) agenda.
The legacy of this campaign is the dirty deeds of the Nmkt Town Hall smear account. Last week, Tony Van Bynen left nothing to chance when he mailed almost 20,000 voters a flyer full of lies and smears against Ward 6 Councillor, Maddie Di Muccio and her husband, Ward 7 challenger John B. These flyers were extremely effective as voters rewarded the mayor with his choice of puppet council members.
If there is any doubt that Tony Van Bynen is the "mastermind" of this attack, let me present Exhibit A: The Era reports that the biggest cheer of the night at the Van Bynen victory party came when the Ward 6 and 7 results were confirmed. I am certain that there is no need for an Exhibit B.
From today onwards, any challenger worth his/her salt is going to invoke the same maneuver going forward (and probably not just at election time). Newmarket voters yesterday passed judgement and approved of this dirty tactic and apparently it doesn't matter how outrageous the lie that is told. The ends justifies the means after all and the means in this case for certain ambitious Newmarket politicians is discrediting an opponent.
So don't be surprised Newmarket when the next time you open your mailbox and the stench of the next vicious attack ad is emitted. Welcome to the new dawn in Tony Van Bynen's Newmarket, where lies are dished out in super-sized portions.
And good people won't run for municipal government. Why would any decent, honest person want to subject themselves and their families to what Maddie Di Muccio has been through?
No, the only people who will step forward will be cut-throats, scoundrels, and other sordid types who will do anything and say anything to get their hands on your taxpayer dollars. This town's government will be a hornets nest of fraud and corruption for many years to come.
And to the newly elected council who are sure to whine and complain when they find themselves on the receiving end of a really good whopper - You don't need to ask, "Why are you attacking me?" It is simply in the nature of flies to be attracted to BS.
You can't win all the battles and the war that is municipal politics is never over. Furthermore, I think you have underestimated the good people of Newmarket. There will always be GOOD PEOPLE that stand up to fight for what is right.
ReplyDeleteThe election results may not have been what we had hoped for but, the awareness for this particular election, its issues, and its dirt was quite high. At least the residents now know of some good and qualified people besides those that were elected.
I would hope that over the next 4 years residents take notice of, and keep watch over just how their council performs. Not just what they do, but how they do it..... It is a certainty that their bank accounts will notice.
You will. His name is John Heckbert. :-)
ReplyDeleteGreat article! The residents of Newmarket saw the mess that was the council over the last four years! They chose to support the mayor and his puppets with a 36% voter turnout! The voters ignored all that went on these past years and chose to ignore the real issues and voted in a council of puppets! None of these people will stand up to the mayor and RC. Newmarket has just flushed the toilet! Yes residents of Newmarket, you will get screwed in the next four years while Tony and his cronies stuff their pockets!
ReplyDeleteSo who is to blame? Well, its the other 60%+ of the eligible voters that didn't give a crap! Will Newmarket survive this? I don't think so! If such a small turnout dictates who runs this town then the only ones to blame, are those that didn't vote!
The ones who should have been elected, were not!
Some of us will be out there keeping an eye on things: not to worry ;-) Be sure to follow upcoming council meetings. We will be there: your voices will be heard. Stay tuned.....
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