VIDEO: Joe Ward Breaks Down the Details on Mayor Clarke's Claim of Debt Reduction

If we look at the data shared by Mayor Clarke's campaign, the CBRM debt was reduced by $19 million over four years with him as mayor. Other factors aside for now, debt reduction is certainly a good result.

However, did you know that it was reduced by $15 Million in two years (2010 to 2012) under Mayor John Morgan?

Our debt peaked at $110 Million in 2010. This was two years before Mayor Clarke was elected.

But we began paying down our debt then. And by the time Cecil Clarke was elected two years later in 2012, it was already $15 Million less.

Here are two things you need to keep in mind about Mayor Clarke's claims that he was successful in paying down the debt:

1. The debt paydown started before Mayor Clarke was elected.

2. The rate of debt paydown was faster before Mayor Clarke was elected.

When we look at deals like the McKeil land purchase, we can start to understand why. The CBRM purchased $1.2 Million dollars of land, creating new debt for us, so that they could lease that land back to a corporation.

The liquidation of Archibald's Wharf ($200,000 for land and structures that cost millions to build) is another example. Hundreds of thousands a year spent on hand picked hires is yet another.

The McKeil land deal is now a part of the backstory in the lawsuit by our former longtime Economic Development Officer, John Whalley. He's suing the CBRM for "constructive dismissal". A part of his complaint alleges that there was a conflict of interest with this deal. And when he brought it to the attention of his colleagues, he was reassigned from the port development business.

Not only was the rate of principal paydown slower under Mayor Clarke, it was slower even with the reduced interest charges.

If I am elected to the next council for District 7, I will be doing my best to cut through the spin and keep District 7 and all CBRM residents informed with straight talk.

If you have a different view on this issue, please post so that we can have a discussion.

Please share to spread awareness.

www.electjoeward.com
Joe Ward for District 7 Council

1-888-330-7579

Do you live in District 7?
The communities of Howie Center, Sydney Forks, Portage, East Bay, Ben Eoin, St. Andrews Channel, Big Pond, Big Pond Center, Middle Cape, Irish Vale, Irish Cove, Enon, Grand Mira North, Grand Mira South, Upper Grand Mira, Gabarus Lake, Gabarus, French Road, Rock Elm, Huntington, Sandfield, Juniper Mountain, Big Ridge, Marion Bridge, Caribou Marsh, Dutch Brook, Mira Road, and that part of the community of Prime Brook south of Highway 125

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