I feel I must write you with my deep dismay and disappointment in the comment attributed to Mayor Nolan Coruse in yesterday's Gazette. The one where he calls Sheena Hughes a “do nothing go nowhere councillor. "
I believe this is extremely demeaning and vindictive, and speaks of a pettiness that is unbecoming of a mayor and tarnishes your office and your stature.
Other councillors spoke of their efforts to work together:
Councillor Wes Brodhead: "Ultimately I think everybody's heart's in the same place and that's to serve our community."
Councillor Cam MacKay: "As long as it just stays professional."
Councillor Gilles Prefontaine: "As you kind of work together as a group, you're able to understand those dynamics and really start to adjust."
Councillor Hughes was elected to council by a healthy majority of votes, and speaking of her in that manner is not only insulting to her personally, but to all who voted for her and even her fellow councillors. Where is the respect and civility that were touted by you, as mayor, at the beginning of your term?
As bad as it was to make that comment to the editorial board of the Gazette, I believe it was even worse to print it. To what purpose is printing such a remark? Is it to highlight the dysfunction in our council? Because seeing that pretty much confirms that there is dysfunction, and that it comes from the top.
I believe that Coun. Hughes, and indeed all the councillors as well as the residents of St. Albert, deserve a public apology and a retraction from both you, as mayor of St. Albert, and from the Gazette editors.
Katherine Van Hoof, St. Albert
