Windsor Mayor Drew Dilkens remains tight-lipped whether he plans to run for re-election this fall, but it hasn't stopped him from attacking a declared candidate and using city resources to do it.
Last week, Chris Holt announced an investment strategy as part of his election platform, saying it would put millions more in city coffers. The announcement was critical of the current council's policy.
Windsor Mayor Drew Dilkens responded later that day through the Mayor's Office. The statement, distributed on his behalf, was emailed to the media by his Chief of Staff, Andrew Teliskewsky.
"He [Holt] included my name. He's criticizing the actions of Mayor Dilkens and administration. I think it's really responsible for the mayor to put out facts in this situation so that the public is informed about who did what in terms of the decision-making at the council table but what the prospect of implementing such a policy would mean," said Dilkens.
Dilkens insisted Holt's plan would expose residents to greater risk and could cause the city to go into debt to pay for capital projects.
“Councillor Holt just doesn’t understand that you can’t opt to invest the sums he is proposing without simultaneously going into debt to pay for the annual municipal capital investments,” read the statement from the Mayor’s office.
It isn't the first time Dilkens has faced criticism for allegedly using city resources to campaign unofficially. Last month, he was questioned about an insert in the latest property tax bill that listed the current council's achievements but featured a prominent photo of himself.
At the time, Dilkens responded to criticism saying, "I am the mayor of the city, and I’m communicating with the residents of the city."
The deadline to file nomination papers for the upcoming election is August 19, 2022.
"I think everyone is well aware of what the deadline is, and everyone has their own plan in mind of what they are going to do," said Dilkens.
The municipal election is on October 24.
