Update: Bill McKay has backtracked from comments that he wouldn't seek re-election next year, saying he hasn't made the decision yet. Read that story here.
Original story: Nanaimo’s mayor has confirmed he won’t be seeking re-election next year, amid a recent firestorm of controversy at city hall that has some voters taking matters into their own hands.
Fed up with the dysfunction within council, Mayor Bill McKay made it official Tuesday, saying that when municipal elections roll around in October 2018, his name will not be on the ballot.
“I knew politics was dirty. I had no idea it could be this dirty,” McKay told CTV News. “This isn’t what I signed up for. Just the agony of coming to work every day in an atmosphere where you don’t know what attack is coming today.”
McKay’s announcement comes after a term that has been rife with drama, including the recent leak of a video that allegedly shows former councillor Wendy Pratt assaulting city manager Tracy Samra.
Other incidents include allegations of bullying and harassment that led to council members calling for McKay to resign.
Some political scientists have even speculated that the tension-fraught council could have contributed to a landslide “no” vote in a referendum on a proposed event centre earlier this year.
To add to the ongoing drama, a group of citizens is signing a petition demanding staff either get along – or resign.
The online Change.org petition, created by Matthew O’Donnell, lists a number of requests directed toward McKay, councillors and Samra.
The petition includes demands such as “mayor and council and CAO commit to work with each other in cooperation from now until the 2018 municipal election.”
It also asks them to sign a code of conduct and to refrain from public outbursts or using the media against each other “for personal or political gain.”
“There’s been so many national news headlines about the City of Nanaimo, all centering around city council, and it’s just gotta stop. It’s enough,” said O’Donnell.
The petitions is calling on city hall to sign the agreement by Aug. 14.
“If one or all members of Mayor and Council and CAO cannot come to terms with all points contained in Option 1, then the individual member must resign their seat effective immediately,” the petition states.
As of early Tuesday evening, 51 people had signed the petition.
Despite the pushback from the community, some members of council deny the infighting has reached a critical state.
“I say we’re not dysfunctional, we’re a group of individuals who disagree a lot of times,” said Coun. Gord Fuller.
John Ruttan, who served as mayor from 2008 to 2014, said this council’s behaviour has put a black mark on Nanaimo internationally, and fears it could end up costing the city.
“Are you prepared to put hundreds of thousands and possibly millions into a major project without any assurance you’ll be heard properly?” said Ruttan.
In a statement, the Ministry of Municipal Affairs said it won’t get involved with Nanaimo council because “local governments are autonomous, responsible and accountable. They have a range of tools to help elected officials conduct themselves in a responsible manner.”
With a report from CTV Vancouver Island's Jessica Lepp
