The 2010 municipal election is still a year and a half away. That much is certain. What isn’t is who will vie for the nine seats on city council, though speculation has been running high in recent months and shows no sign of cooling off.
Vaughan’s city councillors are seeking outside legal advice on what to do with a damaging compliance audit into the 2006 campaign books of a municipal candidate. It’s become a familiar refrain at city hall: Similar campaign audits of Mayor Linda Jackson and Councillor Bernie DiVona each prompted council to seek both independent legal advice and ultimately charges. The difference this time is the target of the audit: former mayor Michael DiBiase.
Councillor Bernie DiVona’s political fate is now in the hands of the city’s independent prosecutor. At a special meeting Tuesday, DiVona’s colleagues heard advice from Timothy Wilkin that DiVona should be charged for apparent contraventions of the Municipal Elections Act uncovered in an audit of his 2006 campaign books. Council agreed to retain Wilkin to pursue charges against DiVona.
The tally so far: nearly three-quarters of a million a dollars. That’s how much the city has paid, as of March 31, for audits of the 2006 campaign books of four Vaughan political heavyweights and related legal fees.
Vaughan’s city councillors are looking for outside legal advice on what to do with a damaging audit into the 2006 campaign books of one of their own. Councillor Bernie DiVona, who resigned his post as budget committee chair last month after the audit was released, may find himself in the same boat as Mayor Linda Jackson.
Councillor Bernie DiVona resigned his post as Vaughan’s budget chief prior to a Monday evening committee meeting. The move comes on the heels of a damaging audit report delving into his 2006 campaign finances, released last week. DiVona may have used thousands of dollars from his 2006 election funds to pay for repairs to the roof of his home, the audit uncovered.
Vaughan’s budget chief quit the post prior to an evening council meeting April 27. The announcement of Councillor Bernie DiVona’s resignation, made by deputy city clerk Sybil Fernandes, comes on the heels of a damaging audit report delving into his 2006 campaign finances, released last week.
Looking back at 2008, Vaughan Today’s editorial staff faced what turned out to be an easy decision when choosing Newsmaker of the Year. There were worthy runners up, but only nine could come out on top. Love them or hate them, you couldn’t avoid them in 2008.
Councillor Bernie DiVona was not content to sit idly by when a trio of residents took their pursuit of an audit into his campaign finances to Newmarket court last month.
Councillor Bernie DiVona squared off last week against three Vaughan residents seeking an audit into his 2006 campaign finances over what he called “dirty” and “disgusting” legal and political tactics.
Dozens of seats in the cafeteria at Vellore Village Community Centre were empty at Monday’s public budget consultation, leaving the city’s budget chief concerned.
The Woodbridge forum, the first of three in Vaughan’s 2008 draft budget process, was an opportunity for the public to interact with councillors and city staff on how the budget should be crafted.
Traffic, waste and city’s image among top issues facing councillors this fall Ward 5 councillor Alan Shefman says he is hoping the upcoming council session will usher in a new sense of teamwork among his colleagues, and it sounds like he may get his wish.