Andy’s back
Former St. John’s mayor seeks old job
Andy Wells made it official Tuesday, confirming what basically everybody already knew: he’s running for mayor of St. John’s.
Wells made the announcement surrounded by friends at a table outside the Churchill Square Tim Hortons, where he paid for everybody’s coffee Tuesday morning.
In his announcement speech to the media, Wells showed flashes of the combative, controversial political style that defined his first tilt as mayor of the capital city, between 1997 and 2008.
Wells said taxes are far too high, and if he’s elected mayor he’ll push for the largest tax cut in city history. He also mused about studying the possibility of redefining the borders of the city — perhaps giving the Southlands neighbourhood to Mount Pearl as a way to improve service efficiency. Wells also promised a four-year freeze on salaries at city hall, although that was a bit of a confusing matter.
“The city unions will be advised that there will be a fouryear wage freeze from 2017 to 2021,” Wells said. “Taxpayers need a break.”
When asked about that campaign commitment a few minutes later by reporters, Wells confirmed it.
“You just simply say we’ve got no more money. The cupboard is bare,” Wells said. “We cannot offer you any wage increases.”
When it was pointed out that the unionized workers have negotiated contracts, Wells changed his position a bit, abandoning the promise of a 2017 wage freeze.
“If there’s negotiated increases in the contract now, you will have to deal with that. But as contracts expire, you will have to say, you know, you may have gotten increases in 2017 or 2018, but after the next round of negotiations, there is no more. We can’t afford it.”
Brian Farewell, a Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) representative who is responsible for municipal workers with the city, said Wells’ comments were irresponsible.
“I think it’s very confrontational, and to be honest with you, disrespectful to the employees of the city,” Farewell said.
All of this appears to be a return to the classic bombastic Andy Wells style.
Since 2008, Wells has been quieter because he was serving as the chairman of the Public Utilities Board (PUB). However, in the past year he has started to return to the public eye, sending angry emails to city councillors and complaining about perceived waste and corruption among the current city council.
Wells was suspended from his job at the PUB and under investigation for inappropriate conduct, but when he formally resigned and announced he was running for mayor, Justice Minister Andrew Parsons announced the government was dropping the investigation because it served no further purpose.
The only other declared candidate for mayor at this point is Ward 1 Coun. Danny Breen. Mayor Dennis O’keefe hasn’t said if he’s running for re-election.
At his campaign launch, Wells also talked at length about one of his major passions for city hall — transparency.
He accused some councillors of outright illegal activity and corruption without providing any names or specific evidence. He has previously railed against the break on rental fees at Mile One Centre for the Icecaps hockey team — something Wells characterizes as an unnecessary subsidy.
On Tuesday, Wells repeatedly committed that people would have a better idea of where their money is being spent, and decisions will be made at public council meetings.
“There will be no taxpayers’ dollars spent at private meetings,” he said. “The insiders will be chased out of city hall.”
Municipal elections will be held on Sept. 26.