Politics has always had its share of rule benders and dirty tricksters particularly at election time.
In the past the worst of such adolescent behaviour has been wrought on opponents’ election signs.
As the internet becomes more and more a campaign tool, some new tricks are being devised.
E-Tomfoolery in Vaughan
Peter Meffe, incumbent Ward One Councillor in Vaughan, has a challenger in Mary Ruffolo.
Councillor Meffe was first elected to City Council in 1988 and is now serving his fourth term.
According to her website, Ruffolo, the challenger, has spent the past eight years in municipal government working within the Planning & Development Department in Vaughan.
It is her website that is at issue here because, if you had gone to it earlier this month, you would have been redirected to Meffe's site. Ruffolo was miffed.
Figure This One Out
Rocco Panacci, a resident of Richmond Hill set up a website for both Meffe (with his permission) and for Ruffolo (without her permission.)
Panacci, apparently a paid campaign worker for Meffe, recently told the Toronto Star that he is managing Meffe's website and had agreed to set up the site that used Ruffolo's name.
While Panacci told the Star he had done nothing illegal and denied anyone had asked him to set up Ruffolo's - I mean Meffe's website - the site was quickly taken down after the story.
Looks like an interesting election in Vaughan. We'll keep our eye on Meffe as an early front runner for Local Politician of The Year.
