The attacks on Coun. Sheena Hughes over the last few weeks have been nothing other than attempts to distract from the matter that Ms. Hughes brought forward related to the mayor’s expenses. This type of character assassination is one of the most primitive means of obscuring factual information, if one can’t dispute the facts, turn toward the bearer.
Ms. Hughes has demonstrated incredible preparedness for council meetings, she has shown absolute professionalism not only on the subject of the mayor’s expenses but also in the face of confounding character obliteration.
In the Nov. 5 edition of the Gazette, Mayor Crouse is quoted as saying Sheena Hughes is a ‘do nothing go nowhere councillor.’ That would be the second time in the last few months the mayor has publicly criticized the same member of council yet he objects to the manner in which his expenses were presented stating that he felt ambushed. There is a clear double-standard issue the mayor seems to think he is above. It’s time the people of St Albert begin holding the mayor accountable for his controversial actions and his inflammatory remarks.
Over the last few weeks I have read many letters and editorials regarding the mayor’s expenses. Words like integrity, hard-working, honesty were attributed to the mayor mostly to construe his actions as mistakes. These words are far better suited to Ms. Hughes who has shown tremendous courage and that standing up for truth and transparency is of dire consequence.
Because of the work of Ms. Hughes and Mr. Cam MacKay, we now have policy changes that will make it more difficult for expenses to be double billed and we have a plainly necessary investigation into the scope of the mayor’s double billing.
Ms. Hughes is a true representative of the people whether you agree with her or not. The role of a councillor is to serve the public and place the best interests of the community above conformity.
Leo Sanelli, St. Albert
