Mission Councilor Herar Wants Apology From Mayor And Fellow Councilor For Intimidation!

Mission councillor Herar stood his ground when council recently voted on the 2020 tax bylaw that sought increase of 4.39 percent but Herar was the only one to stand up for Mission residents, saying the time was not right for an increase this size and that council should reconsider given the financial crunch everywhere. While residents of Mission saw Herar as people’s champion, a fellow councilor Cal Crawford insulted Herar by calling it grandstanding. And to make matters worse, Mayor Pam Alexis did not sanction Crawford’s out-of-line comment. Now Herar wants apology from both Crawford and Alexis and he’s not returning to council until he gets one.

 MISSION – There is a new Sheriff in Mission and his name is Ken Herar.

Mission councillor Herar stood his ground when council recently voted on the 2020 tax bylaw that sought increase of 4.39 percent but Herar was the only one to stand up for Mission residents, saying the time was not right for an increase this size and that council should reconsider given the financial crunch everywhere.

While residents of Mission saw Herar as people’s champion, a fellow councilor Cal Crawford insulted Herar by calling it grandstanding. And to make matters worse, Mayor Pam Alexis did not sanction Crawford’s out-of-line comment.

Now Herar wants apology from both Crawford and Alexis.

Herar told a Mission newspaper that he feels humiliated by comments made by Crawford and believes a public apology is in order from both Crawford and Alexis.

And he said he’s not returning to council chambers until that happens.

The dispute began last Monday evening as council debated the 2020 annual tax rates bylaw. Herar, reading from a prepared statement, told council he felt the pre-approved municipal tax increase of 4.39 per cent should be lowered in light of the recent economic impact of the COVID-19 crisis. He even volunteered to take a pay cut of five per cent, reported the Mission Record.

The rest of council did not support altering the increase – which was set, debated and voted on in December 2019 – and Crawford stated that he was surprised by Herar’s “grandstanding.”

When Herar asked Alexis to have Crawford clarify his comment, the mayor suggested that the two men “have a conversation offline.”

A few days after the meeting, Herar is still unhappy.

“I’m disappointed by those comments by Coun. Crawford. It was a cheap comment to make. My heartfelt intentions were to express the views of our citizens. By deflecting it, we don’t get to really tackle the issues we needed to.”

Herar believes there was an opportunity to bring some amendments to the budget to provide relief to citizens.

“When you make a comment like that, you insult the people who may not be able to afford this budget at this time, with job losses, limited work or no work. I think he (Crawford) owes the community an apology.”

Herar said he doesn’t care about an apology for himself, but feels that Crawford’s comments were an insult to those struggling financially. He also said Alexis should apologize.

“I felt Mayor Alexis should have dealt with it then and there at the meeting … I asked for a clarification point because he (Crawford) was out of order.

“I tried to do something positive and you get slapped in your face.”

Herar is glad he spoke up at council, saying the fact that council took no action to try to lessen the tax burden, or to provide any relief due to the COVID-19 situation, looks bad on council.

“I only ask that my fellow councillors take the time to reconsider all the financial hardships our taxpayers are experiencing right now and listen to the economic forecasts being made by the experts. Canada’s economy is not going to miraculously rebuild itself overnight. We are in for tough times in the future and our budget must be adjusted to meet that challenge … I’m not the finance guy, but we didn’t even make an attempt.”

As for the “grandstanding” comment, Herar said councillors should all be free to discuss issues openly, without any kind of intimidation.

This is not the first time Herar has felt like his opinion was being belittled and he said there appears to be a double standard around the council table.

He pointed to a recent debate about a downtown pawn shop owner wanting to move his business next door to a building he had purchased. Such a move was not permitted under the current bylaw, and council denied the store owner’s request.

 “The mayor calls me to give her point of view that she thought I was out of line. And my comments weren’t. There was nothing in there that I said that attacked anybody on council or anything, I just expressed my views,” he said.

In Herar’s opinion, Crawford’s comments were out of line, but nothing happened.

“There’s definitely a double standard happening in my opinion. Nothing was said in the public forum to correct it then and there, but I’ve spoken, too, about the pawn shop.”

Herar also said he will continue to speak up on issues.

“I will not be intimidated or silenced on issues of importance to our community.”

When contacted by the Mission Record, Coun. Cal Crawford declined to comment on the matter publicly.

Alexis shared that sentiment, saying she didn’t think this belongs in the public forum, reported Mission Record.

While both Crawford and Alexis are not talking, the Mission voters are.

“I read the article below in the Mission Record.  I understand it must be challenging to work alongside colleagues with different ideas and opinions,” said Rochelle Cooper said in a letter to the local newspaper.

“I hope you will reconsider your decision to stay away from council chambers until you receive an apology.  We need your strong assertiveness representing us now more than ever.  I remember the saying; “when the going gets tough, the tough get going”. 

“Thank you for doing your best to represent the citizens of Mission,” Cooper concluded.

“Being a resident with integrity and strong community values is one of the reasons Mr Herar was voted into council. I think he needs to run for mayor next, and rid Mission of the good old boys club for good! I have never been so disappointed by the lack of integrity and ethics of the current mayor and council in my 40+ yrs living here,” commented Sher Elle.

“We might not remember what the mayor or others members have said, however we will never forget how they make us feel by their lack of action.”