MEDIA ALERT: Ashu M. G. Solo Expanded Formal Complaint against Mayor Don Atchison for Potential Violations of Saskatoon City Council Code of Conduct

From: Ashu M. G. Solo [mailto:amgsolo@mavericktechnologies.us] 

Sent: Wednesday, October 17, 2012 9:02 AM
To: amgsolo@mavericktechnologies.us
Cc: 'mayors.office@saskatoon.ca'; randy.donauer@saskatoon.ca; 'glen.penner@saskatoon.ca'; 'pat.lorje@saskatoon.ca'; 'ann.iwanchuk@saskatoon.ca'; 'charlie.clark@saskatoon.ca'; 'mairin.loewen@saskatoon.ca'; 'tiffany.paulsen@saskatoon.ca'; 'bev.dubois@saskatoon.ca'; darren.hill@saskatoon.ca
Subject: MEDIA ALERT:  Ashu M. G. Solo Expanded Formal Complaint against Mayor Don Atchison for Potential Violations of Saskatoon City Council Code of Conduct

Dear Media:

Today I expanded my formal campaign advertising complaint against Mayor Don Atchison for potential violations of the Saskatoon City Council Code of Conduct.  This complaint previously dealt with potential violations of the City Council Code of Conduct in campaign advertising on Atchison's Facebook account.  Now it also includes potential violations of the City Council Code of Conduct in campaign advertising on Atchison's campaign Web site and Twitter account.  I'm also asking for an investigation on whether there were violations of the City Council Code of Conduct in Atchison’s campaign videos and a Mayor's Cultural Gala insert.  My complaint will be put before the Executive Committee of Saskatoon City Council at its November 5, 2012 meeting. 

I previously filed a complaint against Atchison, Councillor Randy Donauer, and the City of Saskatoon with the Saskatchewan Human Rights Commission (SHRC) after Atchison called on Donauer to try to lead a diverse audience in a Christian prayer at a Volunteer Appreciation Banquet organized by the Mayor’s Office and after they refused to stop this practice and apologize.  SHRC is still determining which aspects of my complaint it will proceed with, which respondents it will proceed against, and which aspects of the Saskatchewan Human Rights Code may have been violated.

Atchison is an inept leader who doesn’t care about the Saskatoon City Council Code of Conduct, Saskatchewan Human Rights Code, or Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms.  All he cares about is getting elected. 

I’m making these complaints because in a democracy, the government doesn’t just hold citizens accountable, but citizens hold government accountable.  Not only is the business of government the business of people, but the business of people is the business of government.

You can see the email messages below between me and the Saskatoon city clerk for my latest complaint and other details.  

Best regards,

Ashu M. G. Solo

From: Ashu M. G. Solo [mailto:amgsolo@mavericktechnologies.us]
Sent: Wednesday, October 17, 2012 8:35 AM
To: 'Mann, Janice (Clerks)'
Subject: RE: Expansion of Formal Complaint against Candidate Don Atchison

Dear Janice Mann,

It’s absolutely fine if the Executive Committee, candidate Don Atchison, the media, and the public know that I made the complaint.  The Executive Committee can also feel free to contact me if they need any further information from me or anything.  Thanks.

Best regards,

Ashu M. G. Solo

From: Mann, Janice (Clerks)
Sent: Wednesday, October 17, 2012 8:18 AM
To: 'amgsolo@mavericktechnologies.us'
Subject: RE: Expansion of Formal Complaint against Candidate Don Atchison

Dear Mr. Solo

Thank you for your email.  Your expanded complaint will be placed before the Executive Committee at its November 5^th meeting.

I also want to advise you that for complaints regarding the Code of Conduct the identity of the complainant(s) will be made known to the Executive Committee and to the candidate against whom the complaint is made.   I assume that since you have copied all of Council already you will still wish to proceed with your complaint; however if that is not the case please let me know.

Yours sincerely,

Janice Mann

City Clerk

From: Ashu M. G. Solo [mailto:amgsolo@mavericktechnologies.us]
Sent: October 17, 2012 7:54 AM
To: Mann, Janice (Clerks)
Cc: Web E-mail - Mayor's Office; Donauer, Randy (City Councillor); Penner, Glen (City Councillor); Lorje, Pat (City Councillor); Iwanchuk, Ann (City Councillor); Clark, Charlie (City Councillor); Loewen, Mairin (City Councillor); Paulsen, Tiffany (City Councillor); Dubois, Bev (City Councillor); Hill, Darren (City Councillor)
Subject: Expansion of Formal Complaint against Candidate Don Atchison

Dear Janice Mann:

I would like to expand the scope of my formal complaint against candidate Don Atchison to also include potential violations of the Saskatoon City Council Code of Conduct on his campaign Web site and campaign Twitter account. 

Candidate Tom Wolf brought these potential Code of Conduct violations to light.  Candidate Atchison should have made sure that there were no other potential violations of the City Council Code of Conduct after candidate Wolf brought these potential Code of Conduct violations to light.  However, candidate Atchison didn’t do this because I found potential violations of the Code of Conduct on his Facebook account.

I would now like my formal complaint to cover all of the following campaign advertising actions that potentially violated the City Council Code of Conduct:

1. References to candidate Atchison as “Mayor Atchison,” “Mayor Atch,” and “Mayor of Saskatoon” on his campaign Facebook account.

2. Reference to candidate Atchison as “Mayor of Saskatoon” on his campaign Twitter account.

3. References to candidate Atchison as “Mayor Don Atchison,” “Mayor Atchison,” and “Mayor of Saskatoon” on his campaign Web site.

I don’t have screen captures of candidate Atchison’s campaign Web site or campaign Twitter account.  However, the potential violations on his campaign Web site or campaign Twitter account were reported in the StarPhoenix article entitled “Wolf questions Atchison’s Use of Mayor’s Office” by David Hutton at http://www.thestarphoenix.com/news/Wolf+questions+Atchison+mayor+office/7312029/story.html.

After my complaint, candidate Atchison removed a bunch of videos from his campaign Web site.  This was reported in the StarPhoenix article entitled “Complaint filed over Atchison’s use of ‘mayor’” by Charles Hamilton and David Hutton at http://www.thestarphoenix.com/news/Complaint+filed+over+Atchison+mayor/7335391/story.html.  The videos are now back on candidate Atchison’s campaign Web site.  I think the only likely reason that these videos would be temporarily removed after my complaint is if they contained references to candidate Atchison as “Mayor Atchison.”  I believe the Executive Committee of City Council should appoint an independent investigator to determine if this was the case.  If these videos violated the City Council Code of Conduct, I would like to add this to my formal complaint.

Furthermore, it has been brought to my attention by a citizen of Saskatoon that there was a Mayor’s Cultural Gala insert in an issue of the StarPhoenix in the first week of October 2012 ,and that this insert contained numerous references to candidate Atchison as “Mayor Atchison.”  I don’t have a copy of this insert, I haven’t seen it, and I don’t know if it constitutes campaign advertising.  I think if there is an independent investigator, she should also look into this.  If this Mayor’s Cultural Gala insert  violated the City Council Code of Conduct, I would like to add this to my formal complaint.

I don’t agree with banning references to council members as “Mayor X” or “Councillor Y” in campaign advertising.  I don’t think this is important to ban and I think this should be changed by City Council.  However, because this is prohibited by the City Council Code of Conduct approved by City Council, the rules must be followed by all council members.  Because of potential violations of the City Council Code of Conduct, I believe that candidate Atchison has unethically gained an advantage over the other candidates for the extremely important office of mayor. 

I’m copying this email message to City Council and blind copying it to various media outlets, so they can be aware of the expansion of this important formal complaint against candidate Atchison. 

I’m making this complaint because in a democracy, the government doesn’t just hold citizens accountable, but citizens hold government accountable.  Not only is the business of government the business of people, but the business of people is the business of government.

Best regards,

Ashu M. G. Solo

From: Mann, Janice (Clerks)
Sent: Tuesday, October 02, 2012 11:59 AM
To: 'amgsolo@mavericktechnologies.us'
Subject: RE: Potential Violations of the City Council Code of Conduct by Don Atchison

Dear Mr. Solo

Thank you for getting back to me.   Your complaint will be placed before the Executive Committee at its next meeting (November 5, 2012) and you will hear further in due course.

Yours sincerely,

Janice Mann

City Clerk

From: Ashu M. G. Solo [mailto:amgsolo@mavericktechnologies.us]
Sent: October 02, 2012 11:43 AM
To: Mann, Janice (Clerks)
Subject: RE: Potential Violations of the City Council Code of Conduct by Don Atchison

Hi Janice,

Yes, I would like to file a formal complaint against candidate Don Atchison for violations of the Code of Conduct because I believe he has violated the Code of Conduct repeatedly with his campaign advertising and because I believe this has given him an unethical advantage over the other candidates for the extremely important office of mayor.

Best regards,

Ashu M. G. Solo

From: Mann, Janice (Clerks)
Sent: Tuesday, October 02, 2012 10:42 AM
To: 'amgsolo@mavericktechnologies.us'
Cc: Sproule, Joanne (Clerks)
Subject: Potential Violations of the City Council Code of Conduct by Don Atchison

Dear Mr. Solo

I have forwarded the details of your complaint to candidate Don Atchison.   I have no authority, under provincial legislation or civic bylaw, to do anything other than pass the information to the candidate.

I assume from your email below that you wish to lodge a formal complaint pursuant to the provisions of the Code of Conduct; however would you please confirm that this is the case.  I can be reached at 975-3240. 

Yours sincerely,

Janice Mann

City Clerk

From: Ashu M. G. Solo [mailto:amgsolo@mavericktechnologies.us]
Sent: Tuesday, October 02, 2012 2:39 AM
To: ‘City Clerk’s Office’
Subject: Potential Violations of the City Council Code of Conduct by Don Atchison

Dear City Clerk’s Office:

I read the StarPhoenix article “Wolf questions Atchison’s Use of Mayor’s Office” by David Hutton at http://www.thestarphoenix.com/news/Wolf+questions+Atchison+mayor+office/7312029/story.html.   I understand that Tom Wolf’s campaign team says repeated use of the title “mayor” by Don Atchison in online campaign advertising violates the City Council Code of Conduct (http://www.saskatoon.ca/CITY%20COUNCIL/Pages/CodeofConduct.aspx#elections).  I further understand that after the City Clerk’s Office contacted Atchison’s campaign headquarters about references to him as “Mayor Don Atchison” and “Mayor Atchison” on his campaign Web site and a reference to him as “Mayor of Saskatoon” on his Twitter account, they removed these references.

I just took a look at Atchison’s official campaign account on the social network Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/DonAtchisonSaskatoon/info).  On the “About” page of this Facebook account, there are five references to Atchison as “Mayor Atchison” and a reference to him as “Mayor Atch” in his biography and awards.  There are also five references to Atchison as “Mayor of Saskatoon” on the “About” page of his Facebook account.  The text for his biography and awards on this Facebook page follows below.  I am also attaching a screen capture of this Facebook page.

From Don Atchison’s Facebook page:

Biography

Don Atchison was first elected to Saskatoon city council in 1994 and served as councillor up to his election as mayor in 2003. He was re-elected mayor in 2006 and again in 2009. Throughout his years in public office, he has never wavered from his commitment to the inclusion of all Saskatoon citizens and neighbourhoods. He strives to see all sides of the issues and to work in partnership to create 

the greatest benefit for all citizens of Saskatoon.

Mayor Atchison inspires confidence in our collective ability to achieve bold visions. After decades of indecision, River Landing is now evolving before our eyes, and the South Bridge – first discussed almost a century ago – will soon be spanning the South Saskatchewan.

But “thinking big” isn’t just about big structures; Mayor Atchison has been equally as adamant about finding innovative ways to fund affordable housing, rejuvenate neighbourhoods, reduce crime and involve people from all walks of life in the decisions about our future, such as through the “Saskatoon Speaks”. His vision and pursuit of excellence for Saskatoon is as wide as it is deep.

“Atch” learned the value of teamwork early in his life. Growing up in Saskatoon, he was involved in a variety of activities. He especially loved sports, where his talent as a hockey goaltender led to playing in the professional leagues. After hockey, he returned to Saskatoon and his family’s retail business. He and his wife Mardele have remained committed Saskatoon, where they have raised their five children.

In recognition of his work, Mayor Atchison has received a number of honours, including being named a Paul Harris Fellow by the Rotary Foundation of Rotary International; the Medal of Merit by the International Association of Lions Clubs; and the Saskatchewan Centennial Award.

What is his greatest honour? Ask Mayor Atch and he will quickly reply, “Serving the greatest city in Canada.”

Awards

In recognition of his work, Mayor Atchison has received a number of honours, including being named a Paul Harris Fellow by the Rotary Foundation of Rotary International; the Medal of Merit by the International Association of Lions Clubs; the Consumer Choice Man of the Year Award; and the Canadian Sport Tourism Alliance President's Award for Public Sector Supporter.

I don’t agree with banning references to council members as “Mayor X” or “Councillor Y” in campaign advertising.  However, because this is prohibited by the City Council Code of Conduct approved by City Council, the rules should be followed by all council members.

Atchison’s Facebook account was created on September 5, 2012 obviously for his reelection campaign.  I assume he has been violating the City Council Code of Conduct since then.

I strongly believe that Don Atchison should be sanctioned in accordance with the City Council Code of Conduct.

I am blind copying this email to Tom Wolf, various media outlets, and Don Atchison, so they can also be aware of these potentially serious violations of the City Council Code of Conduct by Don Atchison.

I look forward to your response.

Best regards,

Ashu M. G. Solo