ESSEX FEUD CRITICIZED
Judge weighs in on dispute
A Superior Court judge admonished Essex Mayor Ron McDermott and Coun. Randy Voakes on Monday for their ongoing “immature, childish and rancorous” political interactions. “Mayor McDermott and Coun. Voakes didn’t need a trip to court today, they needed a trip down the hall to the vice-principal’s office,” Superior Court Justice Thomas Carey said in his ruling on an application brought to court by McDermott.
McDermott was seeking to have Voakes removed from council for the six-month balance of the current term and to disqualify him from being a member of council for seven years. McDermott accused Voakes of failing to declare a conflict of interest under the Municipal Act at a Sept. 5 meeting when council was voting on an integrity commissioner’s report. Integrity commissioner Robert Swayze recommended that Voakes’ pay be suspended for two months based on his “aggressive and bullying ” behaviour. Swayze’s 84-page report focused on the ongoing battle between Voakes and other members of council. On Monday, Carey dismissed McDermott’s application and urged the two men to shake hands and move on. Carey said Voakes did not breach the Municipal Act and felt that he took Swayze’s report seriously and was working on his promise to be better. The judge, however, didn’t believe McDermott had learned anything and “can’t seem to move on.” He said the animosity and behaviour that has turned Essex council into a “circus” must stop for the sake of taxpayers. “Perhaps there is a silver lining in all this in that the two parties didn’t take this out to the parking lot but chose to fight it out with lawyers in a court of law,” he said. “I like to think perhaps these two gentlemen listen and can perhaps shake hands and put this unfortunate past history between them behind them, move on and keep their heads up and think of the taxpayers.”
But outside court a visibly upset McDermott slammed the judge’s decision while waving a copy of the Municipal Act that he still believed Voakes breached.
“This is the last straw,” he said. “He’s threatened us in council meetings. Something is going to be done about this person. Something has to. But guess what? Nothing happened. Thank you very much, Mr. Judge.” McDermott said he brought the matter to court because no one else was willing to take on Voakes. When asked about leaving Voakes’ future to the voters in the upcoming election, he just shook his head. “We’ve been leaving it up to the voters for four terms,” McDermott said. “You think a lot of people don’t know about what’s going on. I guess too many don’t know. But very soon the whole world will know.” Voakes said he was pleased with the judge’s ruling and planned to put the court saga behind him while focusing on getting back to work for taxpayers.
“I don’t always sugar-coat things,” he said. “Whether you like that or dislike that, that is the way I am. You heard the judge say that. The judge realized that’s the kind of gentleman I am. I am really challenged on just getting things done for the taxpayers.” Voakes said he’s taken the integrity commissioner’s points seriously and is continuing to work on improving his behaviour and the way he handles himself during council meetings. He added that he has “some great political aspirations” and isn’t ruling out another term in office.