Gordon Prentice at Large - Politics in Newmarket
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- Written by: Gordon Prentice
I am reading Tom Vegh's glossy flyer and what he says about himself. 
He reminds us that he is a director of this and a director of that.
He has more directorships than your average Russian General has medals on his chest.
Of course, all these board appointments come with the job. They are in no sense proof of distinction.
If I were to be elected on 24 October 2022 I would have a fistful of "directorships" within weeks.
What Vegh says is just puffery. And people aren't remotely interested in that kind of self-promotion.
Experience at executive level
But what caught my eye was this:
*25+ years' experience at the executive level in the non-profit and private sectors
*Past Executive Director of Habitat for Humanity York Region and Inn From the Cold
So, in this election campaign, he parades his experience as a past Director of the homelessness organisation, Inn From the Cold.
Yet he couldn't summon up the energy to talk about it when Newmarket's Mayor, John Taylor, was battling to convince his Regional Council colleagues to give a capital grant of $1M to the charity.
Throughout the long debate on 29 September 2022 Vegh sat on his hands and said nothing.
Abnormal
That is not normal behaviour.
Am I the only person in Newmarket who believes Vegh's silence was weird?
Clearly, the local press don't believe there is a story.
But I do.
In similar circumstances, I would have rowed in behind John Taylor, giving him vocal support.
Election Debate
I've invited Vegh to an election debate in the multi-purpose room at Newmarket Public Library from 7pm-8-pm on Tuesday 11 October 2022. All are welcome.
If Tom Vegh turns up - and I hope he does - I shall ask him to his face:
"Why didn't you speak in the debate on the funding of the Inn From the Cold?"
"Why didn't you support your own Mayor, John Taylor, in making the case?"
"And why did you leave the Inn From the Cold?"
Why?
Gordon Prentice 7 October 2022
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- Written by: Gordon Prentice
I am out knocking on doors on Eagle Street with my little band of helpers. Today there are five of us ready to confront the unknown. Our task is to get my lawn signs up in high visibility locations and to listen to what the voters have to say. 
As usual there are plenty of Vegh signs in front of empty properties. This is his modus operandi. We knock on the doors to see if anyone could conceivably be living there and with no sign of life we move on. Vegh’s signs stay in place, proclaiming support from a non-existent resident.
Now I am talking to a fascinating worldly-wise guy, sitting on his porch, cigarette in hand.
He is not voting because his vote won’t change the system. The people with the money and the power call the tune.
Money Talks
I agree with him. Money talks.
But he has the power, through his vote, to elect people like me. And I won’t sell out. I tell him I‘ll rattle the bars of the cage. And I’ll get things done.
I try my best but he won’t take my lawn sign. He has given up. Alienated from the whole system.
Now I am talking to an angry man. He doesn’t want to listen. He retreats into his house refusing even to talk to me.
I say:
“What is it you are so upset about? I won’t be back here again so why not talk to me? What’s the problem?”
He disappears into his house, muttering.
Now I am talking at length to a man who is clearly interested in what I am saying. I have a very clear idea of what needs to change.
Now he tells me he didn’t vote for Tom Vegh at the last election.
Check me out on Google
I am encouraged. I leave him my lawn sign. Check me out on Google. Visit my website. And if you don’t like what you see take it down.
I use this formulation a lot. And it works.
It’s my last call of the evening. I really, really want my lawn sign in this location.
I spend a long time talking to this voter, fielding his questions, making my case.
Pretending
Believe me, I say, I don’t need this job. But I can’t let Tom Vegh sell us out to the developers while pretending he is on our side.
Eventually he takes my lawn sign.
My friend who is close by hears everything and says I could sell ice to the Inuit.
He is wrong.
I am just telling it as I see it.
And people can take me or leave me as they choose.
Gordon Prentice 6 October 2022
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- Written by: Gordon Prentice
I drove past Lorne Avenue twice today at its intersection with Davis Drive. 
The police were there, lights flashing, ludicrously.
Why on earth do we allow this ridiculous pantomime to continue?
The police are there, presumably, to protect the construction workers from angry drivers, furious they can't get through.
Or, maybe, the answer is more prosaic.
They are on hand to direct traffic.
But there is a big orange sign on Lorne telling everyone:
ROAD CLOSED
The police have powers to direct traffic - and I don't - but what an absurd waste of highly skilled police time.
The police should be out catching criminals not spending their days in idle chatter with construction workers.
All it needs is a one clause Bill to remove the obligation on police to be present when roads are being dug up and traffic may need to be redirected..
Perhaps our new MPP, Dawn Gallagher Murphy, could drag herself away from organising her Corn Fest and BBQ, and do this.
Gordon Prentice 6 October 2022