In a news conference he described as being about “resignation consideration,” Kamloops Mayor Reid Hamer-Jackson stood in front of a cacophonous crowd Monday saying he will remain in office — and intends to run again in the next municipal election.
Dozens of supporters whistled, cheered and chanted, “council must go, council must go” after Hamer-Jackson made his announcement.
“I think Kamloops needs someone at city hall who isn't satisfied with just saying it's the same all over — because it's not. Who isn't afraid to ask questions when city hall [administrators] recommend purchases or other course of action. Who wants the public to be involved in city decisions as much as possible,” Hamer-Jackson said.
In his speech, mayor said he had "thought long and hard” about his past 22 months in office, adding his family, friends and the public had been weighing in.
“I’ve been under fire prior to day one. Most all of my motions have been voted down, or worse, not even seconded so that we could at least have a public discussion,” Hamer-Jackson said.
He also claimed he had been physically assaulted in June, declining to give further details citing a police investigation.
Hamer-Jackson later told reporters that he never really considered stepping down.
“It's back and forth — you know, I've never really, I guess I never really considered it, and then with the support of the emails and texts and all that stuff that that I've got, it's been really good,” the mayor said.
Council asked Hamer-Jackson to resign in May, after a provincially-appointed municipal advisor concluded that governance issues plaguing council were largely due to the mayor’s combativeness and unwillingness to take responsibility for his actions or admit fault. Hamer-Jackson said at the time he would not step down.
In the past couple of months, Kamloops council has decided to remove Hamer-Jackson’s ability to act as city spokesperson, citing a past failure or refusal to execute the will of council — the mayor’s responsibility under the Community Charter.
His salary has been cut by 10 per cent for six months, or until he delivers an apology letter he was reportedly directed to sign months ago after an investigator found he breached council’s code of conduct. The mayor has also been barred from closed committee meetings for a year, or until he takes a special training course, with council citing continued privacy breaches posing legal risks to the city.
During his speech, Hamer-Jackson pledged to continue working towards his goals of community safety, prosperity and accountability.
When asked how he planned to make headway on his goals as one member of council, the mayor said he thinks he’s got more done outside of council chambers.
“I'm going to just keep working, what I've been doing since day one, you know, whether it be pick up the phone, call Ravi Kahlon or Mike Farnworth or David Eby or whoever it is, I will be calling them,” he said.
Mayor targets radio host
As reporters gathered around Hamer-Jackson to ask him questions after his speech, the mayor set his sights on Brett Mineer, a radio host and reporter for RadioNL.
“The reason he showed up is because he heard the word resignation,” Hamer-Jackson said, asking Mineer to “back up a little.”
This incited members of the crowd to call out, “he’s not going to move,” with one man saying, “what’s the matter with you?”
“I couldn’t believe you showed up, Brett,” Hamer-Jackson said. “You’re bad for this community. You’re bad. Anyway, Brett, could you please, everyone wants you to leave — so why don’t you just leave?”
“I can’t believe you showed up either, Brett,” a woman called out. The crowd then started chanting, “Brett, go home. Brett, go home.”
Castanet Kamloops asked Hamer-Jackson if he was removing a journalist from a news conference.
“No,” the mayor replied. “No, but I’d ask him to step back a bit because there’s a lot of other journalists and people that are trying to get in. And he’s a very negative person in our community. He’s got nothing to say nice.”
In a statement sent to Castanet after the news conference, Mineer said the experience was intimidating.
“I have come to expect the mayors' supporters don’t like my show, and that the mayor frequently name-drops me in media scrums, but what none of us should expect or accept is a mayor who attempts to use a mob to intimidate critics,” he said.
Mineer said he had observed Hamer-Jackson pointing him out to people in the crowd before the event, and upon returning to his car afterward, he noticed someone had parked their vehicle “about half a foot” from his drivers’ side door.
“I’m of the opinion this is not the kind of thing most people in Kamloops would be okay with, and to the degree that some are, I’d suggest they do some reflection.”
