Has The Senator Been Fields-ed
David Cassivi is an honourable man. He is an experienced politician who serves Windsor well. He and his wife make a good team and are responsive to his Ward 4 constituents I have been told. He speaks very practically at Council, usually at the end of the debate, even though I sometimes do not agree with his position. He is loyal to the Mayor, sometimes being criticized for that, until the person is no longer worthy of support. The "Senator" is a retired high school teacher and was first elected in 1982. Before that, he was a Catholic school board trustee for 13 years. He is the longest-serving Councillor on Council.
Imagine then his surprise when the first story in Thursday's Star attacked him and Councillor Wilson for overspending "the Essex-Windsor Solid Waste Authority's budget for travel by politicians for three of the last four years, including trips to Arizona, Texas and Lake Louise." Then came Saturday's front page story about "Cassivi seeing world, on us."
Poor David. It was a perfect hatchet job of the first degree. What had he done behind the scenes to deserve this? Nine trips over three continents in two years mind you (if it was only one year it would not have been so dramatic I guess). And it was not until Page 4 that we learned that three of the trips were as stand-ins for Mayor Francis and a fourth was paid for by the FCM!
Now perhaps David will know how the other David, Fire Chief Fields feels after the job done on him through the Star. Don't you find it bizarre that the Mayor was not interviewed to stand up for his stand-in (and if not around, mention made of that)? I do.
Is there an explanation for this. Of course but it is complicated.
Travel budget stories are headline grabbers and easy news to write. Everyone understands them since we all wish we could travel to exotic locations at someone else's expense. As you may recall, before the last election, Bill Marra spent money for travel since he was doing municipal association work that was revealed during the election year and while Eddie Francis spent not one cent. That was very clever of Eddie wasn't it, if planned long in advance, especially if he had decided that he was going to run for mayor or thought seriously that he might.
Why is David being crucified when all he did was to stand-in for the Mayor who could not attend since he was so busy failing on his border strategy and why now?
People know that Bill Marra is a likely challenger against Eddie for mayor and a very serious opponent. Bill could beat him easily I believe since he does not have the baggage of the poor performance of Council this term so far. Marra has been "challenged" publicly to try to discourage him from running as have others who might dare to run (Remember how Councillor Brister acted like a scared puppy with Henderson to deny he would ever run for mayor after one of my Blogs!).
Obviously, now is the time when a person running for mayor would seek out the community to see who would support him/her financially and otherwise.
There is electoral gossip that Marra may run for Councillor in Ward 4 instead of running for mayor. Obviously that would be helpful to Eddie wouldn't it since it would almost guarantee his re-election as mayor.
If Bill ran in Ward 4, it is quite likely that Cassivi or Ken Lewenza Jr. would lose or at least, there would be a heck of an election fight. Unfortunately, David's Dad is not the head of CAW 444 and moving onto bigger and better things in the CAW. Sure David supports Eddie but that support is not enough I am afraid. Ken Junior has to win again to maintain the union connections even if it means losing David on Council.
Therefore, David is now identified as a spendthrift on WORLD-WIDE JUNKETS no less even though, ironically, David is trying to hold a tough line on Council financially. People will remember his world travels won't they as they are spread on campaign literature for Ward 4 by his opponents thanks to him standing in for the Mayor so much.
So Bill has been given an easy way to win a Ward seat and no one will be too upset since David has been around a long time. The stories will predictably say that it is time David enjoyed his retirement! A no-lose seat on Council has been handed to Bill on a silver platter at David's expense.
I am sure that Eddie will call David up to give him his backing (and to keep his vote on Council) and might even come to David's defence. By then, it is too late isn't it? That defence won't be on the front page.
Oh well. Live by the political sword, die by it!
PS. If there is an editorial after the two news stories, a Henderson column about this in the next few days and especially if there is an editorial cartoon, well then David is history. Then the two Davids can have a long, cool one together in an exotic retirement locale and share war stories, this time paid by their OMERS pension plan monies.
Imagine then his surprise when the first story in Thursday's Star attacked him and Councillor Wilson for overspending "the Essex-Windsor Solid Waste Authority's budget for travel by politicians for three of the last four years, including trips to Arizona, Texas and Lake Louise." Then came Saturday's front page story about "Cassivi seeing world, on us."
Poor David. It was a perfect hatchet job of the first degree. What had he done behind the scenes to deserve this? Nine trips over three continents in two years mind you (if it was only one year it would not have been so dramatic I guess). And it was not until Page 4 that we learned that three of the trips were as stand-ins for Mayor Francis and a fourth was paid for by the FCM!
Now perhaps David will know how the other David, Fire Chief Fields feels after the job done on him through the Star. Don't you find it bizarre that the Mayor was not interviewed to stand up for his stand-in (and if not around, mention made of that)? I do.
Is there an explanation for this. Of course but it is complicated.
Travel budget stories are headline grabbers and easy news to write. Everyone understands them since we all wish we could travel to exotic locations at someone else's expense. As you may recall, before the last election, Bill Marra spent money for travel since he was doing municipal association work that was revealed during the election year and while Eddie Francis spent not one cent. That was very clever of Eddie wasn't it, if planned long in advance, especially if he had decided that he was going to run for mayor or thought seriously that he might.
Why is David being crucified when all he did was to stand-in for the Mayor who could not attend since he was so busy failing on his border strategy and why now?
People know that Bill Marra is a likely challenger against Eddie for mayor and a very serious opponent. Bill could beat him easily I believe since he does not have the baggage of the poor performance of Council this term so far. Marra has been "challenged" publicly to try to discourage him from running as have others who might dare to run (Remember how Councillor Brister acted like a scared puppy with Henderson to deny he would ever run for mayor after one of my Blogs!).
Obviously, now is the time when a person running for mayor would seek out the community to see who would support him/her financially and otherwise.
There is electoral gossip that Marra may run for Councillor in Ward 4 instead of running for mayor. Obviously that would be helpful to Eddie wouldn't it since it would almost guarantee his re-election as mayor.
If Bill ran in Ward 4, it is quite likely that Cassivi or Ken Lewenza Jr. would lose or at least, there would be a heck of an election fight. Unfortunately, David's Dad is not the head of CAW 444 and moving onto bigger and better things in the CAW. Sure David supports Eddie but that support is not enough I am afraid. Ken Junior has to win again to maintain the union connections even if it means losing David on Council.
Therefore, David is now identified as a spendthrift on WORLD-WIDE JUNKETS no less even though, ironically, David is trying to hold a tough line on Council financially. People will remember his world travels won't they as they are spread on campaign literature for Ward 4 by his opponents thanks to him standing in for the Mayor so much.
So Bill has been given an easy way to win a Ward seat and no one will be too upset since David has been around a long time. The stories will predictably say that it is time David enjoyed his retirement! A no-lose seat on Council has been handed to Bill on a silver platter at David's expense.
I am sure that Eddie will call David up to give him his backing (and to keep his vote on Council) and might even come to David's defence. By then, it is too late isn't it? That defence won't be on the front page.
Oh well. Live by the political sword, die by it!
PS. If there is an editorial after the two news stories, a Henderson column about this in the next few days and especially if there is an editorial cartoon, well then David is history. Then the two Davids can have a long, cool one together in an exotic retirement locale and share war stories, this time paid by their OMERS pension plan monies.
UPDATE:
Hmmmm. I wonder who provided the "tip" that got this all started.
I do not care if the Star believes these Councillors should resign or not, the use of the word "trash" is a pathetic attempt at being "cute." I believe the Councillors should demand an immediate apology and if the Star has any sense of honour, the Editors should give it!
posted by JoeBlog at 7:23 a.m.
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