Anti-fluoride campaigner votes for it
He tried to bait her to voice her wellknown anti-fluoride views, but she wouldn’t bite.
Hamilton City Councillor Siggi Henry rocked in her chair and rested her chin on her clasped hands, but council colleague Dave Macpherson’s goading wasn’t enough to make her react, though, it did draw the ire of the finance committee chairman.
Instead, Henry surprised her critics at Tuesday’s meeting by voting for the continued use of hydrofluorosilicic acid in the city’s water. Her reason: Water fluoridation is council policy.
‘‘Yes, it’s just business as usual to approve the procurement of these chemicals that go into our water. I totally accept that, I accept the policy,’’ Henry said.
When asked what her personal views on fluoridation of water was, she said: ‘‘We have a policy and I stick to the policy.’’
With four weeks left in the local body election campaign, Henry has come under fire for keeping her personal views under the radar.
She has a history of being an opposer of fluoride. Weeks after she was voted on to council in 2016, she said ‘‘smarty pants’’ scientists had brainwashed the public over the use of the chemical in drinking water.
Her anti-vax views have also made headlines in the past, like when she wore an anti-vaccine t-shirt to an autism awareness event in March this year. She also put a ‘‘Flu Shot Facts’’ sheet on her council office door to educate colleagues and council staff about what she believes to be the dangers of the influenza vaccine.
On Tuesday, councillors discussed whether to approve an increase in the contract sum for the procurement of chemicals for water treatment, taking the total value from $3.25m to $6.55m.
The $3.25m was for a three year contract from 2014 with the difference to $6.55m taking the contract to 2021.
The required chemicals include aluminium sulphate and liquefied chlorine gas, for water purification, and hydrofluorosilicic acid which is added to water for dental health.
Yesterday, Macpherson said it was a case of him trying to flush Henry out.
‘‘In the past, she has complained about us buying fluoride and putting it in the water treatment system. This is an opportunity for someone who doesn’t agree with that to speak out against it and vote against it but she wouldn’t take the bait, said nothing and voted for it,’’ Macpherson said.
‘‘It’s very odd given the many submissions she’s made and things she’s said and done, the tin hats she’s worn. The whole works.’’
Macpherson said Henry goes to great lengths to hide her views from the campaign trail.
‘‘I can’t prove it but she’s been advised not to say anything about that, just to be nice and smile at people and tell them nothing about her actual values and get in that way.’’
His strategy included quizzing staff on whether hydrofluorosilicic acid was a necessary part of the contract and he even suggested an amendment to halt the purchase of the fluoride chemical.
Corporate general manager David Bryant said the chemical could be removed at any time, on the resolution of council, but committee chairman Garry Mallett said the removal of fluoride from city waters wasn’t on the table and shouldn’t be broached.
‘‘The reason to buy it is to put it in the water and you know that and so does everybody here.’’
Garry Mallett