It was a breath of fresh air to see and to hear councillors defend their integrity in the face of the elected mayor.

Ironically his style of leadership was challenged by none other than himself. In 2001, he urged voters in his ward to vote against the introduction of elected mayors as a threat to community democracy and by placing too much power into one persons hands. Not surprisingly, that statement was made before he was nominated as the official Labour candidate for the post of elected mayor.

The ethics of community democracy which he originally promoted were quickly replaced with his aspirations for personal power and has finally resulted in an overwhelming reaction against abuse of authority and disregard for others.

That disregard he continues to display, as he actually believes that he and he alone has the right to carry on as usual and refuses to even consider why he has been confronted with a 'vote of no confidence'.

Coun Georgina Mullis
Edlington/Warmsworth Ward