John Slater, defeated candidate for councillor, Town of Osoyoos. (Richard McGuire photo)
Dear Editor:
Don’t step on a Soap Box.
In my opinion, the personal impressions in the column that appeared in the November 12 edition of the Osoyoos Times by Richard McGuire were not called for by Osoyoos voters.
McGuire grouped the contenders heading into the November 15 municipal election into three distinct categories that he called Incumbents, Grumpies and Community movers.
He then followed that up with his own personal assessment of the candidates.
He then went on to say, “First I am happy to say that most of the candidates would do a good job. I do, however, have concerns about a couple.”
He further stated, “There’s also a candidate who falls into a group of his own.”
He was, as he stated in his column, referring to former Osoyoos mayor, town councillor and provincial MLA John Slater.
McGuire went on to write, “Even now that he’s getting back into politics at the municipal level, I am less concerned with that happened nearly two years ago than with other personal issues that could impair Slater’s ability to be an effective councillor.”
This last statement was especially damaging to the particular candidate and was, in my humble opinion, surely unethical.
The timing of this opinion piece was by the way, dead on.
Art Molenkamp
Osoyoos, B.C.
