City manager Patrick Draper, a City of St. Albert employee, believes that he was defamed in an online blog (front page, July 19 Gazette). It is possible that what was written about him was false and, if so, he is entitled to defend himself.
However, he is not entitled to do it with public money. He might feel that his honour has been questioned. His pride may be hurt. Any private citizen in that position would have to pay a lawyer to respond legally and when he saw the true cost coming out of his own pocket he would probably not use the legal route to respond because it is prohibitively expensive.
Draper should not waste public money to defend himself against his critics. If he thinks they broke the law he should pay lawyers $500 an hour from his own pocket.
Mr. Draper, please do not waste the hard-earned tax money donated to the city by myself and others. Use it to get rid of the magpie infestation, to kill mosquitoes, to improve our parks, to make roads safer or something else worthwhile.
William Green, St. Albert
