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Reid says Chief Electoral Officer appointment blatant political patronage April 24, 2007
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Opposition Leader Gerry Reid says the appointment of Paul Reynolds to the position of Chief Electoral Officer and Commissioner of Members Interests is blatant political patronage and a reward for a long-time Tory supporter. Reid says the appointment removes the impartiality of the position and questions whether all three parties will get fair treatment from a long-time Progressive Conservative (PC) party supporter. Paul Reynolds is a former President of the PC Party and former campaign worker for Ross Reid, the current chairman of the PC election campaign in October. AI raised concerns when Chuck Furey was appointed to this position because of his political background, and I am doing the same now,@ said Mr. Reid. AThis position has normally been filled by a senior civil servant without political ties. Anyone with political allegiances should not be appointed to the Chief Electoral Officer=s position, a job that is supposed to be held by an impartial individual. Not only should the position be impartial, it should also be seen to be impartial. This appointment certainly removes that impartiality. AI have major concerns when a close associate of the current chairman of the PC Party election campaign is put in charge of that election. If this is not a conflict of interest, it certainly has the appearance of such. I am very disappointed that Premier Williams has taken an impartial position and made it into a patronage trough for his buddies and supporters. This is certainly unfair and the people of the province should not stand for such a manipulation of the political process.@ Reid pointed out that this appointment is another in a long list of friends, business associates and relatives the premier has appointed to positions since taking office. However, Reid says it is unfortunate that the premier is now trying to influence the democratic process by interfering in the impartiality of the Chief Electoral Officer=s position. |
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