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Mayoral race: Melanson playing 'last-minute populist card,' complains Crumplin

He says fellow candidate is exaggerating management staffing numbers
Bill Crumplin 2018-crop
(Supplied)

Crumplin is referring to Melanson's pledge to freeze municipal management salaries and review the city's organization.
https://www.sudbury.com/local-news/dan-melanson-would-freeze-management-salaries-review-citys-organization-1089251

He says Melanson is exaggerating management staffing numbers and misleading voters on actual overall staffing.

“This is just a last-minute effort to attract voters who never pass on an opportunity to complain about the salaries of public officials,” Crumplin said.

Full news release below:

Media Release:  Mayoral Candidate Bill Crumplin – “I have learned what the people of Greater Sudbury really want in their Mayor and Council”

As the election winds down, mayoral candidate Bill Crumplin finds himself reflecting on the 3-month long campaign. He is quick to point out that it has been fun and he is really pleased to have met so many Sudburians from all walks of life.  

“I am in awe that I have been so warmly received by so many people.” In addition, Crumplin says, “what I have learned from all of this is that Sudburians want a leader to remove the dysfunctionality from City Hall, create an environment of respect, listen to everyone, and above all else, tell the truth.” 

However, he feels it is troubling to see at least one mayoral candidate play the last-minute populist card late in the campaign after the chance for public debate has passed. 

Crumplin, referring to calls made by Mr. Melanson to freeze the salaries of management at City Hall while exaggerating management staffing numbers and further misleading the voter on actual overall staffing, says, “This is just a last-minute effort to attract voters who never pass on an opportunity to complain about the salaries of public officials.  

Crumplin observes, “The voters I have spoken with are tired of this type of toxicity amongst elected officials and staff, this divisiveness has to stop.” 

Crumplin says, at this late hour to excessively exaggerate managerial and overall staffing numbers is sad.

Crumplin states, “I know that some voters and social media trolls will not agree with me, but freezing salaries of a few managers is simply counterproductive.”  He is clear that Sudbury needs qualified managers and staff “in order to meet the needs of our citizens, the economy and the environment of the 21st century.” 

Crumplin adds, “the people do not want to be misled any more, let’s not tell people there are 700 managers in our local government when in fact there are 115.”  

Crumplin also points out that Mr. Melanson has not been near accurate with many of his claims. The city only employs 1,992 full-time people (see page 55 of the 2018 budget), not 3,000 as claimed by Melanson.

Crumplin observes, “Mr. Melanson cannot differentiate between a functional organization chart and a relationship organizational structure. Melanson says that the Sudbury organizational chart did not include the mayor and council. 

Again, “this is simply inaccurate as one merely has to view page 51 of the 2018 budget that lists the Mayor and Council at the top of the relationship chart. 

Crumplin explains, “It also illustrates that the City of Greater Sudbury has four departments (Corporate Services; Growth and Infrastructure; Community Development; and Community Safety) with 21 divisions.  Just like the cities of Thunder Bay and Barrie that Melanson claims are much smaller when, if fact, they are not.” 

Crumplin goes on to say, “I have learned much from the question and answer sessions, the debates and from some of the other candidates including acclaimed Councillors.  

As Mayor, I will reach out to my fellow candidates to work with them to ensure that we finally have a Mayor and Council who are truly committed to creating an environment of respect, where we value listening to everyone, and above all else, we will tell the truth.”

For more information on Crumplin's candidacy, visit his Sudbury.com election page.


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