The cheque is in the mail. Kelowna Mayor, Sharon Shepherd, has put an end to a controversy over
campaign contributions by returning a $500 donation from retired fire
fighter Harold Heyming. Heyming, who is working on Shepherd's re-election campaign, made the
donation after Shepherd returned a similar contribution from the Kelowna
Professional Fire Fighters Association. The association, which supports the mayor, made similar contributions
to her campaign in 2005 and 2008 as well. In both cases, the cheques
were returned with thanks. In this instance, Shepherd says she decided to return the cheque after
the association confirmed in a public letter of support Thursday that it
had reimbursed Heyming for his contribution. "It's just not worth it," says Shepherd of the flack she has been
taking from come from some members of the community after she admitted
accepting the donation during an all-candidates forum Tuesday night. Shepherd reiterated she was not required to divulge any contributions
until financial statements are required in the middle of March and also
finds it curious that she was the only candidate who was asked to
provide that information. She also finds it curious that the donation would become a hot issue
while the fact that a councillor (Andre Blanleil) was not questioned
about remaining in his seat when his brother (former Fire Chief
Rene Blanleil) addressed council.
No comments:
Post a Comment