Steve Somerville
Vaughan Mayor Linda Jackson takes a break at home this week. While her first 17 months as the city’s top boss have been rocky, she says important things have been accomplished, such as hiring an integrity commissioner.
Vaughan
May 03, 2008 12:13 AM
Some councillors ‘hell-bent’ on bringing her down, Vaughan mayor says
By: Caroline Grech
It’s a balmy Friday afternoon in April and in stepping around her desk at city hall, Vaughan Mayor Linda Jackson nearly trips over her briefcase.
After recovering, she jokes about how that briefcase is among her expense items now under review.
“Oops, I almost tripped over my $164 briefcase,” she says, laughing.
She still has a sense of humour, despite a rocky 17 months at the helm of one of the fastest growing cities in the country.
But this day, the first-time mayor is dressed in jeans, a white blouse and black hoop earrings, and looks a little more worn than her early days on the campaign trail – learning curve aside.
She has reached the limit with the numerous legal actions she’s battling, she says, and it is taking a toll on her ability to do her job.
“There is only a very small group, but they seem to have an agenda to disrupt the operation of the city. Why are they just singling me out? You’ve got to wonder,” Ms Jackson said. “It does get overwhelming because you really need to focus your energy on the job, but you can’t let these other issues slip.”
First came two recounts of the votes cast in the 2006 municipal election, conducted after former mayor Michael Di Biase challenged the results.
Mere weeks after that got settled, a request for a compliance audit on her 2006 municipal election finances was launched by residents Gino Ruffolo and Quintino Mastroguiseppe.That resulted in a court-ordered audit now under way.
In addition, Mr. Ruffolo and his wife, Mary, allege Ms Jackson violated the Ontario Municipal Conflict of Interest Act for her involvement in discussions to sue them. That is also before the courts.
And Vaughan resident Carrie Liddy, who is a former member of Ms Jackson’s campaign team, made a request to have a forensic auditor examine the mayor’s 2007 expenses. That will be looked at by the city’s audit committee next week.
Mr. Ruffolo said his reasons for the actions are a matter of a resident wanting accountability.
“Elected officials should welcome and encourage residents to participate in their local government. Participation leads to a greater sense of community and open and transparent government. Good policy and governance is built with public input and scrutiny,” Mr. Ruffolo said.
Outside the courtroom, however, additional battles are being fought around the council table, which are not entirely surprising given every councillor publicly endorsed Mr. Di Biase as mayor during the last municipal election.
“I was absolutely stunned when that happened because all the years I’ve been involved in politics, I’ve never seen it,” Ms Jackson said.
But in a council marked by bickering over such things as invitations to events, business trips and who can use which official title such as deputy mayor, Ms Jackson doesn’t know if wounds from the election will ever heal.
“I’ve tried. I’ve taken them (councillors) out three times for dinner to see what we can do to move this along. It’s helped a bit, but I think that there’s permanent scars and wounds that won’t heal,” Ms Jackson said. “I’ve seriously made an attempt because I feel that, as mayor, it’s my responsibility to bring council together.”
Ms Jackson doesn’t rule out the idea some politicians around the table might have designs on her job in 2010 and believes that perhaps some of the lawsuits coming forward are politically motivated.
“They are trying to discredit me and make me look like the laughing stock of the GTA so that it will help their political cause,” Ms Jackson said. “Vaughan has done some great things, but the thing is its taking its toll, personally, against my family, financially and mentally,” Ms Jackson said.
Ms Jackson stressed it isn’t council as a whole that she can’t seem to work with.
“It’s not all members of council. There are just certain members of council who are hell-bent on seeing me fail,” she said.
But Councillor Peter Meffe takes offence to the suggestion council isn’t willing to work with the new mayor.
“This council has co-operated in more ways than one. It’s not true if it’s suggested that we’re not co-operating,” Mr. Meffe said. “You can’t hand me an olive branch and then light it afire.”
Council gave former mayor Michael Di Biase a hard time during his rookie year, Mr. Meffe said, be added that the blame game is starting to wear thin amongst his colleagues.
“It doesn’t take a lot to be a great politician here. The economy moves us along. She has an opportunity to be a leader and it’s not happening,” Mr. Meffe said.
Councillor Alan Shefman admitted there has been a number issues where Ms Jackson was the sole dissenting voice.
“I’m astonished to see the number of 8-1 votes take place. It’s a style that’s very independent and doesn’t recognize the role of a mayor,” Mr. Shefman said, adding that not one councillor has said they won’t work with the mayor.
Councillor Sandra Yeung Racco also voiced the desire to work with the mayor and said had Ms Jackson approached her for an endorsement during the campaign, she would have gladly given it.
But the lack of communication from Ms Jackson is a problem, she said.
“It is getting very frustrating for us to do things when you don’t have the support of the mayor,” Ms Yeung Racco explained. “We’re not trying to fight her.”
And trying to attract investors to the booming city isn’t helped by all the public spats, the councillor added.
Ms Jackson is no stranger to adversity, having witnessed the ups and downs of a mayor front-row and centre as the daughter of the late, revered former Vaughan mayor Lorna Jackson.
“At least my daughters grew up with my mother as mayor. It has helped my daughters, especially my eldest. They understand the attacks, they get mad but they understand them. They can cope with it better than if my mother wasn’t mayor,” Ms Jackson said of her daughters Lindsay, 18, and Carolyn, 23.
“I’ve really had a hell of a time. Starting from April two years ago, from when I announced I was running for mayor, it’s been hell on wheels since then,” Ms Jackson said.
But she does have a coping mechanism.
“I try not to think about it. To me, the biggest stress reliever is spending time with my family,” she said.
Very protective of her family, it is when her family members get dragged into the fray that she loses her cool.
“Attack me, don’t attack my staff. Don’t attack my family. When we had confirmation that private investigators were following my children–its unacceptable,” Ms Jackson said.
On the council front, she admits perhaps there are certain things that could have been done better, but is happy that council is still accomplishing a lot despite the distractions, including hiring an integrity commissioner.
If her mother were here now, the mayor believes she would offer these words of advice.
“Keep up the good work. Be strong. Don’t let them get to you,” Ms Jackson said. “My mother was a wonderful person. It’s a lot to live up to, but I’m very honoured to do that.”