Heart FM
Mayor to Turn Down $11,000
Posted about a week ago by Adam J. Nyp
For the second straight year, Woodstock Mayor Pat Sobeski is saying "no" to money.
On Thursday night, Sobeski will table a motion at city council, denying renumeration for his participation on the Woodstock Police Services Board and Woodstock Hydro Board.
Sobeski explains why in this month's "Webchat with the Mayor" in the video below. He also touches on three other issues coming before Woodstock City Council this week.
In turning down the payments, Sobeski will forego collecting some 11-thousand dollars in 2012.
He's tabling a motion and grabbing headlines for doing what he promised during the election campaign? I suppose it is news worthy as, by my reckoning, it's the only promise he's kept. Where's the headline that says he's instituted the public petition process he promised? Where's the headline that ushers in the new era of transparency and accountability he promised? He should be refusing to collect his salary as Mayor as he's refused to do what he said he would do.
Let's just look a little closer at that $11,000. Given his total taxable income a good chunk of that extra income would be taxed back so he's hardly refusing the full amount of $11,000. The actual amount he's (apparently) turning down is being used to buy him PR spin like the story on Heart FM. Money well spent (refused?)
This does raise a broader question though. How much of our tax money do our Mayor, and the other members of Council and local boards rake in on an annual basis? The Mayor thinks it's news that he refused $11,000. I think it would be news if he told us just how much he (and his cronies) haven't refused.
News...Straight from hell. These are the days my friend...i'm pretty sure they'll never end.
A case of damned if he does and damned if he doesn't.
ReplyDeleteThe loudmouthed rabble will always pick something apart...even the good our politicians do...
Anon @ 8:50
ReplyDeleteThere's some truth in what you say. I would, however, be interested to see you provide a list of the good Pat Sobeski has done since assuming the Mayor's position. And, perhaps more importantly, a list of the campaign promises he's kept.
His promise of more transparency has pretty much been shown to be a lie. David Creery demonstrated that clearly on this blog with his promise to respond to questions and then running for cover.
His promise to institute a public petition process was a lie and will remain so until we have such a process in place.
This is a man that ran on the slogan: "Information is the currency of democracy." If he truly believes that then his term to date is possibly the most undemocratic local administration in history.
Please note: I've refrained from using personal insults. I've supplied simple, straightforward, verifiable facts. I would have been happy to respond to any facts you presented to back up your position - if you had any.
Hell, he didn't need the $11,000., he gets a fat MP's pension plus a pension from his private sector employment previous to his federal election as an Mp in Wellington.
ReplyDeleteIf the man was paid based upon accomplishments, his salary would be nil.
Did he make it in under the wire for the pension? I didn't think he served for the full six years. He was defeated soundly in the 1993 election by both the Liberal and Reform candidates. He did manage to poll more votes than the Natural Law candidate though. :)
ReplyDeleteSeems he wore out his welcome in Cambridge. Pity.
WWJimD?
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