Apology accepted
Akbal Mund, the mayor of Vernon, received a roadside suspension for blowing somewhere between 0.5 and 0.799 on a breathalyzer.
There, it’s been said. It had to be said, but hopefully it’s now over and life can return to normal in Vernon.
Mund created headlines across the Okanagan when it was revealed he was given a roadside suspension on Saturday, Oct. 28 when he went to pick up a friend and drive him home, roughly around 11:30 p.m.
It’s important to note that Mund has not broken the law. The new system of roadside suspensions, introduced by the BC Liberals in 2010, penalizes the driver with a warning if they’re between 0.5 and the legal limit.
Although this new legislation has resulted in a considerable drop in sales not only in bars, but also service clubs such as the Royal Canadian Legion, it has resulted in 50 per cent fewer drunk driving fatalities in B.C. over the past seven years.
Had a mayor been caught texting and driving — which statistically causes far more crashes — there wouldn’t have been the same stigma.
As mayor, Mund should have known better. When John Q. Public is given a roadside suspension, nobody cares. If it’s an elected official, it becomes headline news.
Elected officials are held to a higher standard. Groups such as MADD Canada often target professions such as teachers, police, judges and clergy because they too are expected to be community role models.
Politicians know this when they sign up to run for office.
The suggestion that Mund should step down is absurd.
B.C. Premier Gordon Campbell was nailed with an impaired charge while vacationing in Hawaii. His mugshot, a great cause of embarrassment for the premier, appeared in every paper in Western Canada. Campbell stayed in the job, and was again re-elected by the people.
There’s no evidence to suggest a roadside suspension impedes Mund’s ability to run the city of Vernon.
The Daily Courier was among the news outlets to highlight this story. The public is entitled to know this.
It’s now up to the voters of Vernon to decide if they want to re-elect the mayor in October 2018. For someone whose life has been destroyed by a drunk driver, that individual may choose to vote for his opponent.
Mayor Mund has explained his actions in multiple interviews and has apologized to the public.
It’s time to move on.