To the editor:
After attending the mayoral candidate forum at the Moose Hall hosted by the Thunder Bay and district Labour council on October 11, 2018, I have serious reservations about candidate Shane Judge’s understanding of the mayoral role and his ability to be a functional member of Council. It seems Mr. Judge has totalitarian ambitions.
When asked how he would build consensus within council to push through his initiatives," Judge said, “if elected, he would make it clear to the new council at the first meeting that he defeated long-term incumbents, the former minister of municipal affairs. The people have spoken very clearly and they want to see change, It would be up to them whether they would want to reject the mandate given to me by the people. If they did so, well, that’s their problem.” He also said, “he would demand a recorded vote on issues where he would fail and use them on the next campaign trail to remind voters of where he wasn’t supported.”
A question was also posed to the candidates to identify a weakness. Judge, given the opportunity to answer, said, "I've got a bit of a temper, when I am confronted with an obstacle." he then asked moderator Gerald Graham, a former coworker to confirm. The implication to me is that Judge does not work well with others when challenged and doesn’t get his way.
Mr. Judge fails to realize that the Mayoral vote is 1 vote among 13. There are 12 other voices at the table who have been elected with equal voice to represent their constituency . Sorry Shane, we do not need a Rogue with anger issues on Council forcing the city into gridlock and accomplishing nothing. The city is at a crisis point and we need a council that can deliver tangible results.
He may be JUDGE, but voters are the JURY, votes the EXECUTIONER. For me, it’s a firm NO to Shane.
Lex MacArthur,
Thunder Bay
