By Staff
October 16th, 2018
BURLINGTON, ON
Ward 4 Councillor Jack Dennison, who is in a tight race for his council seat knows the election rules of engagement better than anyone else running for office this time around.
Jack Dennison, ward 4 Councillor
Nevertheless he chose to use an email list that was his as a member of council – but not something he can use in an election.
He got caught doing just that and his opponent Shawna Stolte took a formal complaint to the Clerk’s office.
October 15, 2018
Lisa Palermo, Elections Officer
City of Burlington
Hello Lisa,
I am requesting an investigation into the email titled:
From: Councillor Jack Dennison <jack@jackdennison.ca>
Date: October 12, 2018 at 4:18:01 PM EDT
Subject: Advance Polls Open Saturday
I has come to my attention over the past 48 hours that this email was received by dozens of Ward 4 residents who have come forward to advise me that they never gave their email to Jack Dennison for the purposes of receiving election propaganda and that the only way Jack Dennison would have access to their personal emails was if he were to have used the contact list developed utilizing corporate resources or through his contact in his Member of Council’s role.
It is my understanding from the Use of Corporate Resources Policy that the following is true,
“Distribution lists or contact lists developed utilizing corporate resources or through contact in a Member of Council’s role shall not be utilized for election purposes.”
For a sitting Councillor to knowingly contravene the Use of Corporate Resources Policy as well as breach the Privacy Policy in in order to achieve an unfair advantage in the election process is of very disturbing concern. I use the term “knowingly contravene” with confidence as it is clear that City Council reviewed this particular policy on October 30, 2017.
The gravity of the situation is quite serious as the Ward 4 Newsletter email list that I believe Jack Dennison either used, or copied to use under his personal email address, reaches 4000 (over 30%) of the households in Ward 4. This reach is considered accurate as the number is a direct quote from Jack Dennison’s campaign materials.
I am requesting two courses of action to rectify this serious breach of ethics on Jack Dennison’s part.
1. The Elections Clerk demand that Jack Dennison send an immediate apology to the same email contact list that received the October 12, 2018 email and such an email would have to meet the following criteria:
• Would be sent no later than 4pm on Tuesday, October
16 (before the next Advance Poll Date)
• It would contain a subject line that refers only to the previous spam email, such as “Apology for my email of October 12.”
• It would not reprint the objectionable email.
• It would contain only the apology and an admission of knowing misuse of Corporate Resources,
• as well as an acknowledgement that the Oct. 12 email was sent to recipients who did not sign up for emails from his campaign and may have been based on his official Ward 4 newsletter email list
• and would promise that no further emails will be sent to any recipient who had not specifically signed up on his website or a signup sheet to receive campaign emails.
• Jack Dennison would provide a copy of the Recipients List of both the October 12 email as well as the new email to prove the lists are the same and I would receive confirmation of both.
Shawna Stolte, ward 4 candidiate.
2. Following receipt of the above, the Elections Clerk issue an immediate Cease and Desist Order to Jack Dennison in regard to emailing election materials to residents who did not directly agree to receive information in regard to his re-election.
I look forward to your prompt attention to this matter and I will bring a printed and signed copy of this letter to Burlington City Hall for your records.
Thank you,
Shawna Stolte
Candidate for City Council – Ward 4
Burlington, Ontario
Let’s see what she gets at 4:00 pm.
Rick Craven has done the same with his demented rants against Marianne Meed Ward and to support Worsley.
I did contact Lisa and got a response this afternoon. It is being thoroughly investigated but findings or follow up will not be available until after the election. I hope to find out what the outcome is eventually. Only thing we can do right now is to vote for the ethical candidates that care about constituents privacy and listen to their constituents not developers. Ward 4 vote Shawna Stolte.
Jan, George, MG, The City WILL not engage or investigate illegal conduct. We have to file a complaint after the election. Oh, and Council set the rules for the election so they all know exactly what they are doing. I agree with all of you and pray for a complete change at council and that citizens hold their feet to the fire to actually “do their job” and make the City staff actually “do theirs”. Fabulous responses! Thanks to all you and oops lets add Penny too. (Sorry Penny)
Everyone contact Lisa and ask for the same action. This Jack Dennison is the same character who arrived half hour late to ward 4 candidates meeting creating a wow look at me stance that gave the message that I am so important I can do what I like with little regard to my constituents who came on time to hear the issues.
What a shame that Councillors Dennison and Lancaster have resorted to illegal actions. Time for a change.
Just to summarize. It looks like we have a Mayor and some on City Council who have become aloof, arrogant, condescending, and increasingly out of touch with the electorate they represent.
As I understand it, Councillors Sharman and Lancaster have decided to pick and choose where and when they will debate their opponents, and only if it suits themselves. Apparently, both have been no-shows at some organized events. How dare they?
Is it true that Councillor Dennison sauntered in late at one debate with candidate Shawna Stolte, and organizers weren’t sure if he would even attend. Who does Councillor Dennison think he is anyway? We don’t revolve around your schedule Councillor. Make time for your constituents.
Now this is new. It has come to our attention that Councillors Lancaster and Dennison have apparently abused the Municipal Election rules and were using voters email addresses inappropriately. Don’t deny this you two. Both of you realized this was a No No. What were you thinking? There are no credible excuses for this abuse.
How about those very nasty and mean-spirited advertisements aimed at mayoral candidate Marianne Meed Ward? These are totally inexcusable and should not be allowed. Even though they are sponsored advertisements by a third party, they only reflect badly on one person, and that is Mayor Rick Goldring, who on his own has already been taking cheap shots at mayoral candidate Marianne Meed Ward. Is Mayor Goldring deliberately trying to lose his own re-election? Sure looks like it to many of us. Mayor Goldring, you should be so very ashamed of yourself. Residents of Burlington deserve better than this from you.
When we, as voters get to this sad state in municipal elections, I think it’s time we thoroughly clean house at City Hall. Voters, this is up to you, do what’s right.
I wrote Lisa regarding the same thing 3 weeks ago. Blair Lancastor did it as well. Guess what no reply from the City.
Shawna, I have come to expect everything and anything that incumbents are doing to hold onto their council seats. While I agree that this incident needs to be reported to the Elections Officer, my take is that it will go nowhere. Sorry to act so jaded.
What is the saying ” don’t ask for permission, beg for forgiveness”. The emails have gone out there is nothing that can change that. We can only hope that the residents of Ward 4 want change.