Bias against local candidate
Dear editor: Joe Fries’ editorial “Friends in high places”(Herald, Sept.12) presents a quite obvious bias against council candidate Katie Robinson.
Possibly, this is merely a lingering residual effect of his predecessor, James Miller’s animus of then-councillor Katie Robinson. Readers may recall in August 2014, Robinson expressed her concerns regarding the council approved Boonstock music festival which was held on PIB land.
In heated discussions over what could certainly be described as a contentious issue, Robinson’s choice of words in describing why she would not be attending this event, seemed to drive Miller into an extreme state of apoplexy.
In his editorial offerings that followed, as the vanguard for “inclusivity” and the steadfast warrior against “stereotyping” the former Herald editor basically depicted Robinson as harbouring intolerant attitudes ... of committing an offense tantamount to some sort of heinous hate crime ... and thus unworthy of a position on city council. Miller’s huffery and puffery and editorial stamp of disapproval certainly went a long way in determining Robinson’s electoral defeat.
It was very unfortunate that at the event a young women died from a drug overdose and that the concert promoters skipped town leaving bills unpaid.
In his opinion piece, Fries makes a valid point in stating, “Perception is everything in politics...” then proceeds to create a totally invalid “perception” that Robinson, in using existing electronic means available at City Hall to communicate with various media outlets, is some sort of nefarious and devious person out to game the system and cheat other candidates.
Curiously, Fries’ pure innuendo is completely debunked by an article boldly appearing on the front page of the very same edition of the newspaper.
I don’t know Katie Robinson from Jackie Robinson, but to me as a taxpayer, the creative thinking and political savvy displayed Robinson to announce her candidacy and platform in a cost-effective and time saving manner, are attributes to be appreciated and commended in a council candidate, not criticized. Brian Gray Penticton