A Belleville council decision made on Monday night was the topic of discussion on the Lorne Brooker Show on Tuesday morning.
Tyler Allsopp did not mince words and said the decision made on Monday night was about Mayor Mitch Panciuk having the support of four councillors behind him.
“He knows, as I think a lot of other people know, and certainly the people that support me, know that I’m the kind of person who votes my conscious, who is not going to be intimidated or bullied, and is certainly is smart enough to not be tricked or coerced into doing something that I feel is wrong, or something I feel is not designed to best benefit the voters.”
He says it is a very frustrating situation and it was very obvious why he was not appointed to fill the vacant seat.
The vote ended in a 4-4 tie with Mayor Panciuk and councillors Sean Kelly, Kelly McCaw and Bill Sandison voting against appointing Allsopp to the position.
Allsopp clarified he also told all of council a few short weeks ago he was prepared to make the commitment to the position and ready to take on the responsibility of the job.
“I sent every single member of that council a letter within the last two weeks, outlining that I had made sure that I had made the time, that I was prepared for the job and interested in taking it.”
Allsopp says what the people want is to be represented by someone who was picked by the public.
He says the committee that “was set up to not have me” can only make a recommendation and council still has final say on who gets to fill the seat.
He did say if he is not appointed or chosen to fill the vacant seat, he may consider running for election again in 18 months.
The full interview can be heard below.
