Editor:
Regarding Mayor Janyk's letter "Setting the record straight" (Coast Reporter, Nov. 27), perhaps the record is still not totally straight.
If attendance at that council meeting is the qualifying criterion established by the mayor (Mr. Tretick did not attend), then perhaps I am qualified in having attended that meeting. And, why point out Gerry Tretick? Neither of the other two candidates were in attendance, either.
The mayor's reference to "directly from the minutes" is not readily confirmed by the rest of us. Thanks to a streamlined procedure, in vogue since the early spring, the printed minutes no longer detail either the lengthy remarks of council members, nor the questions raised and answers given during the three inquiry periods within the agenda. Instead, queries from both citizens and the media present are simply itemized in the minutes as "council answered questions from the gallery."
The fact is that, after the three sitting members of council (two seats were vacant at that meeting) received the chief electoral officer's report for information, the mayor decided to deliver some lengthy, prepared remarks about candidates in the upcoming by-election.
And, at least one councillor was then moved to separate himself from some of the mayor's specifics.
Later, when CKAY asked a question under inquiries, the mayor added some further clarification as to the qualities sought in potential candidates.
It remains unclear from which set of remarks the mayor has now chosen the quotes which appeared in his letter last week. However, it is clear that he has selected just a very few words of many he uttered.
"There is a real difference" alright, but he hasn't made the record straight, he has simply targeted one candidate.
Brian K. Sadler, Gibsons
