Councillor Jim Karygiannis tossed out of office over election expense violation
Sue-Ann Levy
Published:
November 6, 2019
Updated:
November 6, 2019 10:48 PM EST
Councillor Jim Karygiannis is pictured at City Hall on Sept. 13, 2018. (Ernest Doroszuk, Toronto Sun)
After months of fighting with city officials over questionable election expenses, colourful Councillor Jim Karygiannis was booted out of office Wednesday.
The announcement came by way of a press release from city clerk Ulli Watkiss, who indicated that the Scarborough-Agincourt councillor exceeded the expense limit for “parties and other expressions of appreciation” by $25,962.70 in the last municpal election.
Under the Municipal Elections Act, Karygiannis was only permitted to spend $6,128 or 10% of his allotted total — $61,207.95 — on parties and other thank yous.
According to his own audited financial statements, the long-time Liberal politician spent $32,083.50 on such expenses during the 2018 campaign.
“The Act does not give the City Clerk any latitude or discretion on this matter,” Watkiss said in her statement.
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Watkis added that he is disqualified from being elected or appointed to any office until after the 2022 election.
In early July, the city’s compliance audit committee ordered that Karygiannis be subject to a compliance audit following an application from long-time City Hall watcher Adam Chaleff.
But the audit was put on hold when Karygiannis appealed the ruling to Ontario Superior Court on constitutional grounds. A court date was set for next February.
The Compliance Audit Committee ordered a second audit in mid-July.
Karygiannis told the Toronto Sun Wednesday evening that upon close examination of his Supplementary Financial statement, it has been ascertained that there was a “clerical error” in completing the paperwork.
” I am in contact with my solicitor and auditor in order to correct the error,” he said. “I look forward to being re-instated as the City of Toronto Councillor for Ward 22.”
The Toronto Sun being among the first to put the spotlight on the controversial campaign spending in May.
In his financial statements Karygiannis — who was in a tight race against Norm Kelly, a veteran councillor — only declared $43,812 of his $61,207.95 spending limit.
He declared another $146,645.67 as expenses not subject to the limit, including $81,000 worth of honoraria to 18 people. Those honoraria were paid to an immigration lawyer, his senior legislative assistant, a would-be Liberal candidate and an intern with the Liberal Party of Canada, among others.
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The Sun story also indicated he’d expensed $47,259 for fundraising activities, including a BBQ with a lion dance before the election and a pre-Christmas, post-election event at Santorini Grill.
At the time, deputy city clerk Fiona Clark said that if the councillor had not exceeded his expense limit, all donors would be entitled to a tax-funded rebate on a sliding scale — depending on their donation — of up to $1,000.
Watkiss said in her statement that she will report to council at their Nov. 26 meeting on the steps that need to be taken to declare the seat vacant. Meanwhile, she said staff in the Ward 22 office will support constituents and report to her until the seat is filled by appointment or a by-election.
SLevy@postmedia.com
http://torontosun.com/news/local-news/levy-councillor-uses-campaign-funds-to-pay-supporters-81k
http://torontosun.com/news/local-ne...out-of-office-over-election-expense-violation
Sue-Ann Levy
Published:
November 6, 2019
Updated:
November 6, 2019 10:48 PM EST
Councillor Jim Karygiannis is pictured at City Hall on Sept. 13, 2018. (Ernest Doroszuk, Toronto Sun)
After months of fighting with city officials over questionable election expenses, colourful Councillor Jim Karygiannis was booted out of office Wednesday.
The announcement came by way of a press release from city clerk Ulli Watkiss, who indicated that the Scarborough-Agincourt councillor exceeded the expense limit for “parties and other expressions of appreciation” by $25,962.70 in the last municpal election.
Under the Municipal Elections Act, Karygiannis was only permitted to spend $6,128 or 10% of his allotted total — $61,207.95 — on parties and other thank yous.
According to his own audited financial statements, the long-time Liberal politician spent $32,083.50 on such expenses during the 2018 campaign.
“The Act does not give the City Clerk any latitude or discretion on this matter,” Watkiss said in her statement.
Story continues below
This advertisement has not loaded yet,
but your article continues below.
Watkis added that he is disqualified from being elected or appointed to any office until after the 2022 election.
In early July, the city’s compliance audit committee ordered that Karygiannis be subject to a compliance audit following an application from long-time City Hall watcher Adam Chaleff.
But the audit was put on hold when Karygiannis appealed the ruling to Ontario Superior Court on constitutional grounds. A court date was set for next February.
The Compliance Audit Committee ordered a second audit in mid-July.
Karygiannis told the Toronto Sun Wednesday evening that upon close examination of his Supplementary Financial statement, it has been ascertained that there was a “clerical error” in completing the paperwork.
” I am in contact with my solicitor and auditor in order to correct the error,” he said. “I look forward to being re-instated as the City of Toronto Councillor for Ward 22.”
The Toronto Sun being among the first to put the spotlight on the controversial campaign spending in May.
In his financial statements Karygiannis — who was in a tight race against Norm Kelly, a veteran councillor — only declared $43,812 of his $61,207.95 spending limit.
He declared another $146,645.67 as expenses not subject to the limit, including $81,000 worth of honoraria to 18 people. Those honoraria were paid to an immigration lawyer, his senior legislative assistant, a would-be Liberal candidate and an intern with the Liberal Party of Canada, among others.
LEVY: Councillor uses campaign funds to pay supporters $81Gs
LEVY: The intolerant radicals and their Meghan Murphy circus
LEVY: A man's marathon effort to get his life back
The Sun story also indicated he’d expensed $47,259 for fundraising activities, including a BBQ with a lion dance before the election and a pre-Christmas, post-election event at Santorini Grill.
At the time, deputy city clerk Fiona Clark said that if the councillor had not exceeded his expense limit, all donors would be entitled to a tax-funded rebate on a sliding scale — depending on their donation — of up to $1,000.
Watkiss said in her statement that she will report to council at their Nov. 26 meeting on the steps that need to be taken to declare the seat vacant. Meanwhile, she said staff in the Ward 22 office will support constituents and report to her until the seat is filled by appointment or a by-election.
SLevy@postmedia.com
http://torontosun.com/news/local-news/levy-councillor-uses-campaign-funds-to-pay-supporters-81k
http://torontosun.com/news/local-ne...out-of-office-over-election-expense-violation