PC presidential contender has a falling-out with Fedeli

Vic Fedeli is blasting a Progressive Conservative MPP’s husband who’s running to be party president for unauthorized use of the finance minister’s image in campaign materials.

Fedeli accuses grassroots Tory activist Jim Karahalios — a lawyer and spouse of Cambridge MPP Belinda Karahalios — of unfair “personal attacks” online and misusing his words as a testimonial.

Karahalios, who made his name fighting ousted PC leader Patrick Brown over a promised carbon tax, on Friday dismissed Fedeli’s complaint as “ridiculous.”

He claimed that the finance minister is trying to bolster support for rival presidential candidate Brian Patterson, a party veteran who has worked with leaders since Bill Davis in the 1980s and is the preference of Premier Doug Ford.

“It’s disappointing to see an online attack launched against me,” Fedeli tweeted Thursday.

“I spoke to Jim Karahalios personally and asked him to retract a flyer that used my image without my consent, which he refused.

“Now we see personal attacks and revisionist history. We need a party president that is respectful of its members, and it’s clear that president should be Brian Patterson.”

A Karahalios brochure uses a head shot of Fedeli, who as in- terim leader last winter hailed the Cambridge lawyer for his outspoken criticism of Brown.

“It was part of a settlement where (Fedeli) apologized and praised the importance of my campaigns and there was no time limit on the quote,” said Karahalios.

An online ad for the Karahalios campaign uses a clip from Fedeli on Global’s Focus Ontario supporting Brown’s ill-fated People’s Guarantee election platform which included a car- bon tax pledge that Ford has since scrapped.

“I think it’s the best platform I’ve seen in a long time and I fully endorse it,” Fedeli told Focus Ontario host Alan Carter.

Karahalios also accused the party of undermining his candidacy by excluding his brochure from a bulk mailing to members before the vote at a Toronto convention Nov. 17.

“They’re not running a fair, democratic race,” said Karahalios.