Repeating falsehoods doesn’t make them any more true, incumbent says

RE: Three-Way race in ward 10; Upstart Patterson makes contest with Borrelli, Morrison ‘neck and neck and neck,’ by Anne Jarvis, Oct. 12.

In response to Ms. Jarvis’ pattern of accusations I would like to set the record straight. I did not do an about-face on the Auditor General. My position since being elected has consistently been to support a provincial AG, not a local official. This, I am convinced, is both cost efficient and a better way to go. I never inappropriately announced use of ward funds, despite her repeating a totally groundless claim. There are other examples.

I’ve learned some good lessons from my first experience in “politics” and my first term as Ward 10 councillor. Despite the countless hours on boards, public functions, conferences and many, many meetings, it seems public perception is more guided by a few media jibes or praise than plain old hard work.

I am learning to be thicker skinned when, for example, I am further accused by Ms. Jarvis of waffling on the Pelissier Street parking lot. On this issue I changed my view as I learned more and listened to other viewpoints. I felt, with a better grasp of the issues and with other considerations, I should support more parking. Who has not been forced to change an opinion in life? Abandoning a naive view for better logic should be commended, not cursed. This is part of why we have many debates and often very heated ones over the best road forward at council meetings. Other claims by Ms. Jarvis, such as violating our Code of Conduct for a photo in front of the customer service desk at city hall, are groundless. While we all recognize it is often easier to find fault than to devise politically feasible, cost-effective solutions to long-standing community concerns, I have vigorously pursued and won approval for the Dougal Tunnel, North Service Road and over $27 million in projects for 2018-19. Loose talk and innuendo be damned, I stand on my record.