Re: “Helps slams report as ‘character assassination,’” Oct. 2.
On Nov. 16, 2015, Victoria Mayor Lisa Helps received a report that then-police chief Frank Elsner was abusing his power relationship and harassing women in the workplace. On Dec. 4, 2015, Helps said: “The board has full confidence in our chief. He’s the best thing that’s happened to this town and Esquimalt in a long time.”
Sorry, there can be no excuse for the mayor’s behaviour. Not inexperience, not poor advice. This is a decision guided by personal ethics, a decision covered by workplace policies.
People acting as the mayor has in this case generally resign or get fired with cause. A big-picture systems thinker should have foreseen this connection. No more excuses, too many apologies.
James Campbell
Victoria
