Gordon Prentice at Large - Politics in Newmarket
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- Written by: Gordon Prentice
My copy of the Newmarket ERA arrives on my drive earlier today with a thud. 
It goes to every household in Town. But mostly it is old news wrapped in a huge bundle of flyers.
There is a piece profiling me and my opponent Tom Vegh which has been slowly maturing for 53 days.
The ERA wants to know why candidates are running for office.
I say:
The incumbent, Tom Vegh, accepts campaign donations from people intimately connected with the development industry and votes in line with their interests. I deplore this. He over-promises and under-delivers, promising a new library and seniors’ centre in 2018 and walking away from his clearly stated and unambiguous commitment. (50 words)
I send in my completed questionnaire in August.
Ted McFadden, the Managing Editor of York Region Metroland, gets in touch to say I’ve got to re-write my reasons for running or it won’t be published. (Photo right)
He says I’ve got to omit any reference to my opponent Tom Vegh.
I tell McFadden:
“But he’s the reason I’m running.”
He warns me again that without a re-write it won’t be published.
I refuse to change one word.
I ask him to explain in a little panel where my “reasons for running” should appear, his own reasons for refusing to publish.
And, Ted McFadden, true to his word, publishes my profile, a few days before voting begins, excluding my reasons for running.
I fear this could torpedo my chances.
We all know everyone in Newmarket relies on the ERA for their news.
Gordon Prentice 12 October 2022
You can read the email chain. Click "read more" below and scroll down.
Read more: ERA readers miss out on my reasons for running against Tom Vegh
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- Written by: Gordon Prentice
The election debate at Newmarket Public Library went ahead last night in the absence of a key participant, Tom Vegh. 
I learned at 6.30pm that evening that he would not be turning up. I was told he would be making a presentation on behalf of the Lake Simcoe Conservation Authority at the Old Town Hall just minutes away across Market Square.
I now know he was handing out awards to local environmental champions.
Vegh’s duplicity is breathtaking.
Here is a man who voted to open up over 12 square miles of open countryside across York Region for development. For comparison, the Town of Newmarket covers about 14 square miles.
(Photo right: agricultural land in East Gwillimbury which, to the horizon, Vegh opened up for development.)
Prime Agricultural Land
At York Regional Council he voted to change the land use designation of prime agricultural land allowing it to be used for other purposes.
Last night I spoke to a genial, attentive and very well-informed audience.
But they would have liked to see the two of us debate the issues and Vegh's record in office.
I was ready to publicly eviscerate Vegh by exposing his shameless lies and evasions. He would have had the opportunity to respond. That is the dialectic.
Vegh given notice of debate
His post to the Facebook Groups Newmarket Votes site suggests the debate was something sprung on him:
“??? I have never confirmed my attendance at my opponent’s campaign event. In fact, this is the first time I’ve seen this poster…”
It probably was the first time he’d seen the poster – it went up on my websites on Monday 10 October 2022.
But I have been pressing Vegh for a public debate since 18 August 2022 with no success.
He treated me as an inconvenience.
I am posting below my emails to Vegh together with his only response, also on 18 August 2022.
It's Vegh's call
I remain ready and willing to debate with Tom Vegh on any date, place and time of his own choosing, with his choice of moderator in the chair..
This is the first time ever that I have run in an election and had no opportunity to debate in public with my opponent.
It leaves me feeling deeply uncomfortable.
I think the voters have been short-changed.
You can read the email chain by clicking "read more" below and scrolling down.
Gordon Prentice 12 October 2022
Read more: Tom Vegh Makes Excuses for Dodging Election Debate
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- Written by: Gordon Prentice
There will be an election debate tomorrow evening, Tuesday 11 October, from 7pm-8pm at Newmarket Public Library. 
Everyone is welcome.
I'd particularly like to see supporters of my opponent Tom Vegh.
And, of course, the great man himself. Our Deputy Mayor and Regional Councillor.
I wrote to Vegh one month ago giving him three choices of dates. He could pick the one that suited him best and he could choose the moderator or Chair to host the meeting.
He chose not to reply.
This year the Chamber of Commerce and the local media decided, for their own reasons, that a debate wasn't needed.
And so I've organised my own.
I hope we get a good turnout but who knows? There could be a press boycott of the event.
They could label it a stunt.
I see it as a chance for the voters to get the measure of us both on the same public platform.
Gordon Prentice 10 October 2022