Embattled Saanich mayor wants to get on with city business
Posted January 21, 2015 7:19 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
VICTORIA – The beleaguered mayor of a Vancouver Island community says he’s putting both personal and business distractions behind him and wants to get on with the job of running the District of Saanich.
Richard Atwell says he has apologized to his wife for having an extramarital affair and he welcomes an investigation by British Columbia’s privacy watchdog into his claims that spyware was installed on his work computer without his consent.
Atwell says he’s faced a personal and political onslaught in recent weeks, but with the support of his family and the public he will get through this trying period.
Privacy Commissioner Elizabeth Denham says she’s been watching developments in Saanich and decided to investigate to determine if the Spector 360 software complies with the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act.
Denham’s decision follows a Jan. 12 news conference where Atwell admitted to an affair, alleged his municipal hall computer was bugged and said Saanich police had stopped him four times on groundless suspicions of drunk driving.
Atwell defeated long-time Saanich mayor Frank Leonard last November, pledging to bring change to the largest community on Vancouver Island, but his unilateral decision to fire chief administrative officer Paul Murray cost taxpayers $480,000 in severance.
