On Sept. 17, 2010, more than a year after the Toronto Star first ran this photo, that same shot appeared again, this time on thestar.com in a story by urban affairs reporter Gail Swainson headlined “Vaughan mayor Linda Jackson comes out swinging”.
An investigation into the source of a city hall leak has concluded that the mayor, her executive assistant and a political ally “may hold the key” to the mystery. A June 19 report by former RCMP chief superintendent Ben Soave’s investigative firm, Ben Soave Associates (BSA), was commissioned by the City of Vaughan to uncover how and why copies of cheques and other documents were delivered to media outlets in anonymous brown envelopes late last year.
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.
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.
The Vaughan Coyotes has a nice ring to it. The Vaughan Predators ain’t bad, either. Whatever the team might be called, the idea of landing a National Hockey League franchise in the city above has fired Vaughanians dreams of the coolest game on ice.
Mayor Linda Jackson faces potential expulsion from office and her husband, Mario Campese, may be hit with thousands of dollars in fines. The pair has been served with dozens of charges stemming from a court-ordered audit of Jackson’s 2006 campaign books.
Mayor Linda Jackson is staying mum on whether a sweep for bugs in her office last year uncovered anything illicit, citing the security of the City of Vaughan as reason for her silence.
Council has given the go ahead to special prosecutor Timothy Wilkin to pursue charges against Mario Campese, Mayor Linda Jackson’s husband and 2006 campaign manager.
Vaughan city councillors are pleased with a recent court decision that cleared them of wrongdoing and bias against Mayor Linda Jackson. Ontario Superior Court Justice Peter Lauwers’ ruling, released last week, dismissed Jackson’s claims that council’s unanimous call in June to pursue charges after a court-ordered audit of her campaign finances hinged on a series of illegal actions.
Mayor Linda Jackson says she’s disappointed with a recent court ruling in her battle with the city and is considering her options.
Mayor Linda Jackson says she will release a statement later today in response to a court ruling by Ontario Superior Court Justice Peter Lauwers released last night.