SERVING THE COMMUNITY GOOD

Contrary to the July 28/16 Editorial in the Woolwich Observer, bringing Councillor Scott Hahn to Provincial Court to face municipal Elections Act charges does serve the community interest. Contrary to out of town prosecuter Fraser Kelly prosecuting Sandy Shantz (mayor) also for Municipal Elections Act (MEA) charges was in the public interest.

There has been a pattern of law breaking and rule bending by Woolwich Township for a very long time. It goes back several elections as the Municipal Clerk has advised me that it was a Woolwich "tradition" not to require Councillor Mark Bauman to file Financial Statements when he was acclaimed. This of course is in direct conflict with the MEA which makes it very clear that unless or until an acclaimed candidate (or any other) files his Financial Statements, the public has no idea what if any his campaign expenses and Contributions were.

Clear consequences as in convictions for each municipal election contravention followed by even relatively modest fines would send a clearer message to the public. That message would be that the candidate indeed was incapable of following simple directions and rules and was caught after signing an oath that he followed the rules to the best of his ability. It might also advise electors as to just how limited his or her ability really is. It would also send the message to the public that if they the public do not get excused for "oopsies" then why should politicians be treated differently? Lastly it would encourage lazy or sloppy politicians to bear down and concentrate on these Financial Statements. If their colleagues and opponents can do them properly and appropriately then why can't they?

There are three other good reasons for sending Mr. Hahn on to the courts. They include the Municipal Clerk and MECAC (Municipal Election Compliance Audit Committee). Both parties are in need of significant coaching and teaching regarding their job duties surrounding municipal elections. The third reason is as a deterrent both for the initial offences and then as a deterrent to the rude and inappropriate behaviour exhibited by candidates after they were caught by citizens.