Tensions boil over in email
Mayor calls councillor ‘a moron’ in private email leaked to media
An email exchange from April between Lethbridge Mayor Chris Spearman and Coun. Joe Mauro, where name calling and accusations are included, was leaked to reporters on Monday just before council debate on the needle resolution.
Following the meeting, Spearman confirmed the authenticity saying “I did” send them, though also clarifying it was intended as a private email.
“I’m surprised to see it coming out, but certainly a lot of frustration,” Spearman said.
“Obviously somebody leaked a private email that only Mr. Mauro and I had access to. I can guarantee you it wasn’t me,” he continued.
“That was at the end of April. Joe was being interviewed by the media on motions that were lost. The one in particular was on public art at the ATB Centre. He lost the motion 8-1. He gives the interview and basically says the money should have been spent on snow clearing,” Spearman said.
“I don’t really want to comment too much further, but certainly it’s frustrating that Mr. Mauro misses so many meetings; takes very little professional upgrading. He seems not informed on a lot of issues. His attendance rate is not very good. There needs to be a higher level of commitment. Councillor Mauro has always taken a different point of view from the majority of council. I think it’s important that we do work together. We have to be able to deal with differences of opinion ourselves without it being leaked out into the public.”
Mauro initially told The Herald Monday after the council meeting that he had “no comment tonight,” but would speak Tuesday.
“Thanks for the opportunity for me to speak on this issue, however I have no comment at this time, “Mauro re-affirmed to The Herald in an email on Tuesday. “It’s in the past.”
“When it’s between two individuals, we have some pretty harsh conversations sometimes,” Spearman said.
“I would say to you ‘is it professional to leak a conversation between two individuals?’ I hope they (the public) consider the source. Who distributed it? It was a conversation between me and Councillor Mauro. I didn’t distribute it, so what’s Councillor Mauro’s motive?”
The email leak was provided to media by local resident Reuben Tams, who also made the anti-Spearman T-shirts seen at Monday’s council meeting.
“There are many reasons why I provided the email to you,” Tams told The Herald in an email Tuesday afternoon.
“They all involve misinformation, bullying, and abuse of power — issues that are prevalent in schools, local, provincial and federal governments, private companies, and even at the Lethbridge Herald. If you sent an email like this to a staff member, no matter how ‘stupid or lazy’ they were, you would most likely be fired. If I sent the same email to employees I would need to answer to Work Safe Alberta and could face civil or criminal penalties.”
It was a conversation between me and Councillor Mauro. I didn’t distribute it, so what was Councillor Mauro’s motive? – Chris Spearman – Lethbridge mayor
On Monday, Lethbridge City Council also unanimously voted in favour to a bylaw to establish a code of conduct for members of council. There is already guidelines set by Alberta Municipal Affairs, but it is also possible that office may choose to weigh in on the email exchange.
At the end of City of Lethbridge emails, there is a disclaimer that reads: “This communication is intended for the use of the recipient to which it is addressed, and may contain confidential, personal, and or privileged information. Please contact us immediately if you are not the intended recipient of this communication, and do not copy, distribute, or take action relying on it. Any communication received in error, or subsequent reply, should be deleted or destroyed.”
Here are some excerpts from private the email exchange between Spearman and Mauro:
• From: Joe Mauro <Joe.Mauro@lethbridge.ca>
Date: April 25, 2018 at 7:47:50 AM PDT
To: Chris Spearman <Chris.Spearman@lethbridge.ca>
Subject: Re: Arches Needle clean up.
“WOW Chris; you’re all over the place with these emails!!! I LOVE YOU TOO!!!”
• On Apr 25, 2018, at 8:34 AM, Chris Spearman <Chris.Spearman@lethbridge.ca> wrote:
“It’s not my style to get involved in personal attacks. Your attacks are frequently personal so you should know how it feels and recognize that you are doing it and initiating it. I am quite capable of engaging in personal attacks but choose not to. In 3 and a half years you will have another opportunity to make your case that you would be a better mayor. Until then, I am going to do the job the way I feel it should be done.”
• On Apr 25, 2018, at 8:18 AM, Joe Mauro <Joe.Mauro@lethbridge.ca> wrote:
“Thank you Chris; your comments are just what I wanted & expected. Remember when you were on the other side; it’s interesting that you always came to me, the laziest, moron, least intellectually capable, competent member of council to complain to?!?!?! Plus you should know a few things for sure; I NEVER GO to the media. If they ask me for an interview, I will answer their specific questions. Second, I don’t need nor expect respect from council members; I try to earn respect from the people I work for; so far I think it’s worked out pretty good.”
• On Apr 25, 2018, at 4:21 AM, Chris Spearman <Chris.Spearman@lethbridge.ca> wrote: “Thank you for your comments Joe. You have complained in the past that members of council don’t respect you. I have tried very hard to respect you but I don’t receive respect in return from you. I’m tired of your insults and insinuations. I work hard to make this city a better place and dedicate a lot of time and effort to doing so.
“You are the laziest person I have ever met. Your attendance record is appalling. You contribute the least to council and openly and unethically criticize my work and that of other members of council.
“A recent example was your rant to the media on the cost of public art for the ATB Centre. A vote you lost 8-1. We have had a public art policy for more for more than a decade. If you don’t agree with it, have the balls to sponsor an OBR to get rid of the policy and respect the outcome of that vote.
“To go to the media and state the funds would have been better spent on snow clearing is truly stupid. You are a really are a moron!
“The public art will be in the ATB Centre for decades. The snow was gone in a week.
“You clearly don’t have the intellectual capacity to do the job as councillor competently. You do not understand drug addiction. Every addict using the safe consumption facility is one less addict on the street.
“Every time an addict uses the facility means fewer needles distributed and less opportunity for needle debris in the community.
“You listen to people who oppose the safe consumption site on political grounds. That they don’t agree with it doesn’t make them right. I’m going to side with the medical and addiction experts who have years of educational training and experience. I’m sure that you will continue to try to undermine and close your ears to any progress that is being made. I know you have no solutions to solving this difficult problem and I won’t see any constructive OBRs from you describing how to solve the problems in our city.
“You are just a political gull. You fly in every once in a while just to shit on the work that everyone else is doing. I understand now why you have never had a real job. You would be fired in a few weeks. Your lack of respect for others results in them not respecting you. That you haven’t understood that simple concept at your age is a reflection of your intellectual capacity. You truly are a moron!”
These emails from Spearman and Mauro followed a complaint from a citizen regarding needles found in their truck after it was broken into. The complainant was critical of the response they received from ARCHES during the cleanup.