#munipoli Matters - ISSUE 39 - This Richmond Hill councillor keeps getting into trouble!
Welcome to another edition of #munipoli Matters, where we cover the often under-reported arena of municipal politics, local elections and civic government happenings.
A city councillor north of Toronto’s latest public embarrassment is only reminding people of the string of controversies during his time in office…and does Saskatchewan need to move their election dates around?
City Councillor arrested at TTC subway station
Richmond Hill Ward 2 Councillor Tom Muench was recently arrested by TTC constables on an underground subway platform during the evening of June 16.
Below is a tweet of Muench in an altercation and being handcuffed (Warning: Graphic Content. Viewer Discretion is Advised)
Muench was later released unconditionally and no charges were laid. Eyewitness accounts said he had a woman who appeared to have been intoxicated slumped over on Muench’s lap.
According to BlogTO, Muench said he and friends had gone to watch a football game at BMO Field and "while on the way back a member of my staff had a medical emergency and paramedics were on standby at York Mills Station when we arrived. Unfortunately someone on the train who heard that I am a city councillor made a completely disgusting and false allegation against me."
The Council Accountability Group of Richmond Hill outlined a litany of controversies that has followed Muench since he became a councillor, such as breaking the code of conduct and violating quarantine rules by flying to Aruba
Also, this bizarre exchange in 2019 whereby Muench pulled over a resident and started acting like he was a police officer.
First elected in 2014 when the previous incumbent, Carmine Perelli, left to run for mayor, Muench previously worked as a tennis instructor across Europe and held management roles for Fortune 500 companies. He registered to run for his third term back on May 27.
There is one other contestant in Ward 2 challenging Muench as of this writing: Sigmund Lee, who registered on June 16.
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Does Saskatchewan need to move an election date in the future?
In 2020, the province held both its provincial and municipal elections weeks from each other in the fall, October and November respectively. Now there are calls from some municipalities to move the municipal vote closer to the spring.
Regina’s city manager recommended that the municipal vote be moved to May of 2024 and every four years subsequently. The last municipal election was held November 9, 2020. Some municipalities, such as Saskatoon and Swift Current, delayed their vote by a few days due to a massive snowstorm hitting the province around voting day.
Saskatchewan has a fixed election date law that is flexible so to take into account if the provincial vote overlaps a federal election. This happened in 2015, when the federal Conservatives called an election in October that year. Saskatchewan moved their provincial election to April of 2016.
There isn’t unanimity from municipalities though, as cities would like to move the date but rural communities prefer to stick with having fall elections. Randy Goulden, the President of the Saskatchewan Urban Municipalities Association (SUMA) is suggesting cities could vote in May and towns in September.
“So we’ve been working with our members to provide dates that would certainly help facilitate safe and democratic elections,” Goulden said.
In other news
Burnaby, BC: The locally based municipal version of the environmental party revealed their slate of candidates for the October municipal election in Burnaby, BC. Running alongside incumbent Councillor Joe Keithley are three more candidates: Jasmine Nicholsfigueiredo, Carrie McLaren and Tara Shushtarian.
Burnaby Greens are highlighting affordable housing, the ‘15-minute city’ and active transportation (walking, cycling and rolling) networks as the issue they wish to focus on in the upcoming campaign.
This platform is rather reminiscent of the one espoused by Projet Montréal (the current governing party in Montreal), and it worked out well for them…who knows what will happen?
Kingsville, ON: Mayor Nelson Santos, who has been in office of this Windsor-area municipality for almost 20 years, announced he’s not running for another term. In fact, Santos is leaving to “pursue a new career opportunity that will allow him more time with his family.” His last day in office will be on July 17.
Langford, BC: One of the province’s fastest growing municipalities is seeing a new political slate forming amidst concerns over rapid growth with little public consultation. Langford Now recently held a press conference to announce two candidates running under their banner this fall: Colby Harder and Mary Wagner.
Harder, 25, has lived in Langford her entire life and said she’s only known one leader of the city: Mayor Steve Young. There is also the possibility that Langford Now may put up their own mayoral candidate.
Young, who has been in office for 29 years, sounded bullish on his prospects for reelection, though he has yet to confirm if he is seeking another term. "Do I think there’s anything wrong in Langford? Absolutely not,” he responded.
When asked if he was prepared to defend his record, Young replied “Sounds like a man who isn't going to put up with these people who are saying such negative things about Langford. Bring it on, democracy is strong in Langford”
Summerside, PEI: Former lawyer and current businessowner Dan Kutcher had announced back in mid-May that he would be running for mayor in PEI’s second largest city.
“It is time to change the culture in the mayor’s office to one that is more open and transparent, and that better empowers and enables the incredible people we share this city with,” Kutcher said in a news release.
Current Mayor Basil Stewart, who served from 1985 to 2014 when he lost his seat, then returned in 2018, has not confirmed if he would be seeking another term.
Timmins, ON:
The mayor’s seat has officially been declared vacant, as George Pirie recently won the Timmins provincial riding for the Ontario PCs during the June provincial election. Council is expected to appoint someone to the vacancy on August 9.
Clerk Steph Palmateer said the intent is to appoint someone currently on council to the position. This option would mean that the vacant councillor seat wouldn't need to be filled because it's within 90 days of the municipal election.
Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry United Counties, ON: Here’s a quick summary of the local races happening in this Eastern Ontario county. The one standout is South Dundas, where Deputy Mayor Kirsten Gardner and former councillor Bill Ewing on the same day.
Gardner was last seen running under the provincial Liberal banner in the Stormont-Dundas-South Glengarry riding. Current South Dundas Mayor Steven Byvelds announced in May that he was not running for mayor again.
Cover photo from Tom Muench’s Facebook page
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