Souris mayor had ‘no other choice’
Souris Mayor David MacDonald has resigned.
A special meeting was held Friday afternoon where CAO Shelley Lavie and Souris town council accepted an official resignation from the embattled eastern P.E.I. mayor.
MacDonald’s resignation came two days after The Guardian published a story that included details of an email exchange between MacDonald and a man who complained about broken glass on the beach in Souris.
MacDonald used some harsh and questionable language in that email exchange, and during an interview with The Guardian, including, at one point, referring to the man as a “mental midget.”
“Was told u live in B.C. hence reference to drugs but told u live in U.S. hence your Trump-like treatment of my staff, still waiting for apology, but the Donald does not do that,’’ MacDonald wrote in one email.
In a news release issued on Friday afternoon, it was made clear that the comments made by MacDonald were not representative of council or the town
of Souris.
“Members of the Souris town council would like to extend their sincerest apology to Mr. Mike MacDonald, his family and to members of the public who have been offended by the recently published comments made by Mayor David MacDonald during a dispute between Mr. MacDonald and the mayor,” the release said.
“Souris town council strives to make our town a welcoming and vibrant place to live, visit and to do business in. We welcome visitors from near and far and value everyone’s concerns and opinions whether they are a resident or not.”
MacDonald did reach out to the regional managing editor at The Guardian the day before his resignation stating his intentions.
“I have no other choice,” he said during that phone call.
The Guardian tried to contact MacDonald Friday but was unable to reach him for comment.
In the meantime, Deputy Mayor Denis Thibodeau will serve as interim mayor.
The Guardian did reach him at home.
“There is not much to talk about,” he said.
“The mayor called the meeting and he presented his letter of resignation and that’s the end of the story.”
Souris town council will set a date for a byelection during the next town council meeting July 10.