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4- The Oakville Beaver, W ednesday N ovem ber 1, 2006 www.oakvillebeaver.com Political opponents not satisfied with apology Continued from page 1 added, to determine whether the newsletter should be considered a contri bution. The apology letter issued Friday that says Pine Grove does not and did not intend to endorse any candidates is the board's and the school's final response and "no further action will be taken," said Superintendent of Education for Oakville schools, Suzanne Moffatt. While he appreciates the apology, Grant says that doesn't get to the crux of the problem. "Part of the reason I got involved is because there's a big problem with com munication here. Schools should get a O 'Connor MacLeod Hanna LLP, is proud to be Halton's full service law firm. We are pleased to welcome Kelly G. Yerxa to our team o f specialized professionals. Kelly brings over 18 years o f municipal and planning law experience having most recently worked as the City Solicitor and Corporation Counsel for the City o f Burlington for the past six years. Kelly is currently the Chair o f the Municipal Law Section o f the O ntario Bar Association. Kelly will be joining the O M H Real Estate/M unicipal Law D epartm ent and working with Andrew C. Knox, Q .C ., Blair S. Taylor, Harold R. Watson and James McAskill. Kelly can be reached directly at Tel: 905-842-8030 ext. 3345 Fax: 905-842-2460 verxa@omh.ca O'Connor M ac L eod H a n n a llp 700 Kerr Street, Oakville, O N L6K 3W 5 www.omh.ca MCI THE DOCTOR'S OFFICE V Is pleased to welcom e DR. SAMEERA GHAZNAVI Family Physician Former patients of Dr. Elizabeth Sheridan And new families to Oakville are welcome to call reminder before elections that in no way are they to promote, advertise or profile any candi dates. That's why this grave error in judgment occurred," he said. "And still, no one is really being held accountable for this error." The newsletter was put together by a school volunteer, said Pine Grove principal Chris Alexiou. Usually he and vice prin cipal Karen Bonanno read through the newsletter before it's printed, but Alexiou says they weren't able to this time. "I think there was a mistake made," he said. "It's certainly regrettable. We tried to indicate how badly we felt about it in the apology (letter)." Alexiou says he doesn't know whether the three candidates included in the newsletter were aware of its contents before it was printed. The parent council, Woolfrey says, approached him and asked for "information and a copy of my news release," which he sent over, not knowing how it was going to be used. "It doesn't say anything about endorsing me," he added of the contents of the newsletter. "It's just a news release. It's on my website." Bateman-Olmstead and Vrooman say they were just as surprised as anyone else to find their campaign literature in the newsletter and had no prior knowledge th at it would be included. "Was I surprised to read it? Very," said Bateman-Olmstead, who is up against Jeff Middel, Vangie TVavis and Mohan Anand for Ward 4 trustee. "In the past, what's been included in the let ters is get out and vote, these are the candidates in our area, please inform yourself and make an educated decision." Bateman-Olmstead said she assumed the letter had been approved. "W hen I read it, I ju st thought, I don't know if that was a good thing," she said. "I know it's not allowed." Vrooman, who is running against Grant and Danielle Prpich, says it's unfortunate that the newsletter can't be undone. "I know how frustrated and angry Bruce is feeling and how angry and frustrated Danielle must have felt too, because it's a real disadvantage for them, not having had the same opportuni ty," he said. "Unfortunately, I can't do anything about it. I can't stop it. I wasn't involved with editing the newsletter. The newsletter editor didn't realize that what she was doing was wrong." Prpich's main objection is that the newsletter was sent home with students. "I am very uncomfortable with anyone using the children of our neighbourhood as elec tion pawns," she said. "I am very disappointed that the adminis tration of Pine Grove was not able to stop this newsletter from being sent." Both Woolfrey and Vrooman's press releases in the newsletter include graphics and numbers to call to assist with their cam paigns. "This letter should not have gone through. Public funds should not be spent on this," said John Hogg, who's running for town and regional councillor in Ward 2 against incumbent Fred Oliver and Woolfrey. That's one of Oliver's main concerns. "If school resources were used, municipal and local boards are not allowed to make dona tions to a campaign," he said. In that case, Oliver says the school should be reimbursed and those responsible should issue apologies. "People are wondering if the board has approved this, how come they can afford that and they can't afford other things for the pupils," he said. On the fact that the newslet ter wasn't approved by principals at the school, Oliver said, "It causes one to think who's run ning the show at the school and the board of education, that this was able to go through. "I think the whole thing stinks. I think the board needs to get to the bottom of it." Pine Grove and the board hoped its apology letter, which was sent home with students last Friday, would suffice. "This was an error on our part, deeply regrettable and it is certainly not our practice to become involved in the political arena," said the letter, sent on behalf of Alexiou and school council co-chairs, James Arndt and Wendy Walker. "It is inappropriate for Pine Grove School or Pine Grove School Council to endorse one individual over the others," the letter continues. "We sincerely regret that highlighting three candidates in the recent newsletter may have been con strued as an endorsement. We do not endorse any individual candidates. We encourage par ents and all voters to research all the candidates for themselves and get out and vote on Election Day." The board hopes that resolves the issue. "People are trying to do what they feel is in the best interest of everyone," Moffatt said of the school board. "It's over and done with as far as we're concerned at this point in time. Clearly it was a mistake and hopefully we've rectified it." Grant, Hogg and Oliver don't think so. As all three candidates said, "The damage is done." "The fact of the matter is can didates have now been profiled by a school," said Grant. "It's basically created an un-level playing field." -- Krissie Rutherford can be reached at krutherford@oakvillebeaver.com. 3rd Annual Art Auction in support of m -M Amnesty International Saturday N ovem ber 4 7pm preview, 7:30pm auction Church o f the Incarnation 1240 O ld Abbey Lane, O akville 905-338-3730 for an appointment We are conveniently located in In Oakville Town Centre I (please enter through Oakville Town Centre Pharmacy) free admission donations welcomed fea tu ring a rt by Irene M ottadelli, M aria Sarkany, M arvin Olson, B arbara Allen for m ore inform ation contact W endy Belcher, 905-844-4194