Your editorial in the June 20th Gazette criticizes Coun. Sheena Hughes for what you call a “technicality” to delay third reading of the Grandin Park Amacon development. In reality, the Gazette should praise her for taking this step because had third reading proceeded and passed, it could well have been challenged in court because information received after the close of the public hearing was circulated by the mayor’s office when that material should have been date stamped and filed “unread.” Now we have to hold a new public hearing. Sheena’s motion was carried four to two, which means that the majority of council supported her.
There is also an allegation that I took my cue from Coun. Hughes in announcing at the forum that I intended to bring forward a motion, if elected, to clarify the prohibition of a sitting member of council from either applying for or accepting a job with the city. In fact, I announced this when I first decided to run and also advertised this action in my first paid ad in the Gazette.
Sandbagging a candidate in the last edition of your paper during a byelection is the most perverted type of yellow journalism I have ever experienced.
Bob Russell, St. Albert
