Post by Max on Sept 12, 2007 20:19:57 GMT -3
Dupuis, Rodriguez disagree - sort of
Posted By Rachel Punch - Sudbry Star
Posted 19 hours ago
Mayor John Rodriguez says he is not endorsing Ron Dupuis and he was misquoted in a press release from the campaign office of the Nickel Belt Liberal candidate.
The press release, about the opening of Dupuis's campaign headquarters, directly quotes Rodriguez stating: "I have mixed emotions about this campaign. I support Ron and want him to win this campaign, but I also don't want to loose (sic) one of the best deputy mayors and council members I've ever had the pleasure to work with."
Rodriguez said the statement is "a distillation" and he is not officially supporting any candidate. He said, however, he is not upset about being misquoted.
Rodriguez, who served as NDP MP for the Nickel Belt riding for 18 years, said he has been around political campaigns for a long time. He said he understands how handlers can "hear, but they interpret what they are hearing."
Despite the mayor's denial, Dupuis said he is standing by what was in the press release, which was titled "Mayor John Rodriguez Supports Ron Dupuis in his Liberal Candidacy."
"All of the remarks that are on that press release were very flattering to me. I really think it was nice of the mayor to say those things," he said.
When pressed about who was telling the truth, Dupuis said, "I can tell you he told people there (Monday) night that he did have mixed emotions. He knows that I will be able to work in Toronto and mentioned the fact that I'm a team player. He mentioned the fact that I am loyal. He said a lot of things.
"I'm telling you what he said, OK. What do you want me to tell you, he didn't say those things?" Dupuis said. "Don't call me a liar."
A member of Dupuis's campaign team, Dawn Larsen, said the press release was written by a team of people. She said they have a tape of the mayor's remarks and the quote was accurate.
"We have a CD from the media with that," she said.
Rodriguez said he would not be endorsing any candidate in the Oct. 10 election, because as mayor he represents all citizens no matter their political stripe. He said he also must work with whoever is elected.
Rodriguez said he would have gone to any candidate's headquarters opening to which he was invited.
He did, however, say Dupuis is "a fine candidate." Rodriguez also admitted to saying if any candidate was going to win Nickel Belt from the NDP, it would be Dupuis.
Dupuis is running against NDP candidate France Gelinas, Progressive Conservative candidate Renee Germain and Green Party candidate Fred Twilley.
The race for the riding appears wide open because the NDP's Shelley Martel, who held the riding since 1987, is retiring. Her father, Elie Martel, held the riding from 1967 to 1987.
Gelinas said she laughed when she heard about Rodriguez throwing his support behind the Liberals.
"The Liberals like to do this - they send out these press releases," she told reporters at a Howard Hampton campaign event in Hanmer on Tuesday afternoon.
"I guess they'll retract it sometime in the future when nobody's listening anymore."
Gelinas said Rodriguez is "such a smart politician" and would not do "something like this."
Hampton, provincial NDP leader, also commented on the press release, saying the claims made were false.
With files from Laura Stradiotto
Posted By Rachel Punch - Sudbry Star
Posted 19 hours ago
Mayor John Rodriguez says he is not endorsing Ron Dupuis and he was misquoted in a press release from the campaign office of the Nickel Belt Liberal candidate.
The press release, about the opening of Dupuis's campaign headquarters, directly quotes Rodriguez stating: "I have mixed emotions about this campaign. I support Ron and want him to win this campaign, but I also don't want to loose (sic) one of the best deputy mayors and council members I've ever had the pleasure to work with."
Rodriguez said the statement is "a distillation" and he is not officially supporting any candidate. He said, however, he is not upset about being misquoted.
Rodriguez, who served as NDP MP for the Nickel Belt riding for 18 years, said he has been around political campaigns for a long time. He said he understands how handlers can "hear, but they interpret what they are hearing."
Despite the mayor's denial, Dupuis said he is standing by what was in the press release, which was titled "Mayor John Rodriguez Supports Ron Dupuis in his Liberal Candidacy."
"All of the remarks that are on that press release were very flattering to me. I really think it was nice of the mayor to say those things," he said.
When pressed about who was telling the truth, Dupuis said, "I can tell you he told people there (Monday) night that he did have mixed emotions. He knows that I will be able to work in Toronto and mentioned the fact that I'm a team player. He mentioned the fact that I am loyal. He said a lot of things.
"I'm telling you what he said, OK. What do you want me to tell you, he didn't say those things?" Dupuis said. "Don't call me a liar."
A member of Dupuis's campaign team, Dawn Larsen, said the press release was written by a team of people. She said they have a tape of the mayor's remarks and the quote was accurate.
"We have a CD from the media with that," she said.
Rodriguez said he would not be endorsing any candidate in the Oct. 10 election, because as mayor he represents all citizens no matter their political stripe. He said he also must work with whoever is elected.
Rodriguez said he would have gone to any candidate's headquarters opening to which he was invited.
He did, however, say Dupuis is "a fine candidate." Rodriguez also admitted to saying if any candidate was going to win Nickel Belt from the NDP, it would be Dupuis.
Dupuis is running against NDP candidate France Gelinas, Progressive Conservative candidate Renee Germain and Green Party candidate Fred Twilley.
The race for the riding appears wide open because the NDP's Shelley Martel, who held the riding since 1987, is retiring. Her father, Elie Martel, held the riding from 1967 to 1987.
Gelinas said she laughed when she heard about Rodriguez throwing his support behind the Liberals.
"The Liberals like to do this - they send out these press releases," she told reporters at a Howard Hampton campaign event in Hanmer on Tuesday afternoon.
"I guess they'll retract it sometime in the future when nobody's listening anymore."
Gelinas said Rodriguez is "such a smart politician" and would not do "something like this."
Hampton, provincial NDP leader, also commented on the press release, saying the claims made were false.
With files from Laura Stradiotto