SaanichB次元官网网址檚 chief electoral officer has asked the slate headed by SaanichB次元官网网址檚 mayor to B次元官网网址渋mmediatelyB次元官网网址� discontinue the distribution of a brochure because voters may confuse it with a municipal document, but Mayor Richard Atwell said the document looks nothing like a Saanich document.
B次元官网网址淧lease note that this document may be perceived as being issued by the District of Saanich,B次元官网网址� said Angila Bains, SaanichB次元官网网址檚 chief election officer in a letter to United for Saanich. B次元官网网址淭his notice is for United for Saanich and its candidates/official agents to discontinue the distribution immediately. As previously discussed with you all, the District of Saanich does not endorse any candidates nor does it allow for Saanich corporate branding in any candidate election materials.B次元官网网址�
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This notice from SaanichB次元官网网址檚 chief election officer to an electoral group led by SaanichB次元官网网址檚 chief elected officials marks another turn in a turbulent election campaign that has included plenty of public recriminations and sniping.
A lawyer representing Atwell earlier this year sent a cease-and-desist letter to the campaign of his rival Coun. Fred Haynes, claiming that HaynesB次元官网网址� campaign literature misrepresented AtwellB次元官网网址檚 association with Amalgamation Yes. (Atwell, for the record, insists that he has never been a director of the organization, and the lawyer representing the group has since admitted his office entered AtwellB次元官网网址檚 name in the registry by mistake). Atwell now finds himself faced with a similar charge about misleading the public.
Atwell said the charge from the District is vague.
B次元官网网址淭he election officer has not stated with any specific examples what the problems are,B次元官网网址� he said, noting that the brochure does not feature the municipalityB次元官网网址檚 logo, contact information, or colour scheme as part of its branding.
B次元官网网址淚 donB次元官网网址檛 think a reasonable person would come to the same conclusion,B次元官网网址� he said, adding that he is still waiting for District to explain its specific reasons.
Atwell also points to a letter that quotes Patrick James, a compliance specialist, with Elections B.C.
B次元官网网址淭his brochure is in compliance with the Local Elections Campaign Financing Act,B次元官网网址� it reads. B次元官网网址淓lections BC does not mandate the removal of materials, which are compliant under the act.B次元官网网址�
The document bears the title of Saanich Municipal Election Handbook and urges voters to elected United for Saanich headed by Atwell. Its membership also includes incumbent Coun. Karen Harper, and three non-incumbent candidates: Kathleen Burton, executive director of Swan Lake Christmas Hill Nature Sanctuary; Ian Jessop, a former political spokesperson and broadcaster; and Cory Montgomery, a local businessman.
The guide B次元官网网址� whose blue colour scheme matches the slateB次元官网网址檚 election signage that appears in Saanich B次元官网网址� offers personal details about the slateB次元官网网址檚 five members and policies that they promise to promote in office in urging voters to elect the slate. A survey of the brochure found no markings that reference the District of Saanich.
Atwell, who earlier said he is B次元官网网址減roud to runB次元官网网址� with this B次元官网网址渉ighly qualified group,B次元官网网址� has consistently defended the slate as a necessity. B次元官网网址淲e cannot afford a repeat of the past, where we simply decide, we are going to pick a random assortment of people, and hope that it works out,B次元官网网址� said Atwell last month, during the first all-candidatesB次元官网网址� forum. He has made a similar point at other forums.
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The document also includes a picture that shows the slate in an informal setting, and urges voters to vote for the creation of a citizensB次元官网网址� assembly to study the proposed amalgamation of Saanich and Victoria.
Saanich issued the order after receiving complaints from the public earlier this month.
The brochure has also drawn attention on social media.
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