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The Chief Executive of the Newmarket Chamber of Commerce, Chris Emanuel, has confirmed that Tom Vegh will be at the “Meet and Greet” tomorrow so please come along with your questions. 

Tom told the Toronto Star that only a handful of developers gave him money in 2018.

It is unlawful for Corporations to make donations to candidates running for municipal office but their top people can do so as individuals. Does Tom Vegh think this is OK?

His Financial Statement, submitted to the Town on 27 March 2019, shows he got money from Joanne Barnet (Glenway and 600 Stonehaven); from the Kerbels (who are everywhere); from Sam Reisman and Daniel Berholz from the Rose Corporation (the big rental building at 212 Davis Drive and the King George School on Park Avenue); from multiple people at the Urban Planning consultancy Groundswell including the wife of the Principal, Brad Rogers; from Paul Bailey of Basil Developments (Shining Hill in Newmarket); from Hashem Ghadaki and Saeid Aghaei of the Times Group; from Daniel Bell of Trinistar Corporation; from Michael Rice of the Rice Group; from Salvatore Balsamo and Gino Bellisario of Condor Properties; from Michael Galego, the Chief Executive of the Agricultural Division of the Stronach Group who is responsible for managing “agricultural assets”. The list goes on.

I hope people will ask him to identify from his own Financial Statement (copies of which will be on my table) the developers who financed his 2018 campaign.

We also need a clear, definitive statement from Vegh on whether he is soliciting or accepting money in this campaign from people intimately connected with the development industry. And if not, why not?

I want to move on to other issues but Vegh has got to come clean first about who is bankrolling him.

Sign of the Times

Earlier today, I was putting up election signs across Town.

Just like 2018, the Tom Vegh signs are everwhere. Gorham was striking. There were Vegh signs stretching to the horizon – outside empty properties, outside houses being renovated. I decided to knock on doors to find out why people had Vegh signs on their property and it was a revelation. Some people had no recollection of ever being asked if a sign could go on their property. It just appeared.

In my own neck of the woods, Vegh signs are everywhere until I start to knock on doors and talk to people. Some ask me to take Vegh’s sign down and replace it with my own. Others when asked say that Vegh never did anything for them but they agreed to put up one of his signs. 

Every day for the rest of the campaign I shall make a point of knocking on the doors of people with Vegh signs and talk to them about the great man. What has he ever done for them? Why are they displaying his sign on their property? Today I found one person who spoke convincingly about Tom Vegh – he put up a sign because he had known him for years. Hardly a ringing endorsement.

I’d like Newmarket Today to come along with me as I knock on the doors of people supporting Tom Vegh. They could choose the neighbourhood.

I think it would be an education for them – as it was for me earlier today.

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I am running for Deputy Mayor and Regional Councillor. You can follow my campaign at VotePrentice.com

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Oxford Canadian Dictonary

On Tuesday (20 September 2022) Regional Council candidate, Tom Vegh, told the Toronto Star he "received a handful of donations from developers in 2018" but had never been influenced by them. 

In fact, 78% of Vegh's campaign cash came from people intimately involved in the development industry and in the eco-system that supports it - people in the planning consultancies and so on. 

An eyewatering $33,150 came from development industry people including donations from Joanne Barnett (Vice President of the Kerbel Group and Marianneville which is developing Glenway and 600 Stonehaven); from Jeff Kerbel himself and Sam Reisman from the Rose Corporation which is involved in major projects in Town.

The full list, shown here and highlighted in yellow, is from Vegh's own Financial Statement submitted to the Town of Newmarket after the 2018 election as required by law.

I shall be making copies of Vegh's Financial Statement available to the public at the Chamber of Commerce "Meet and Greet" on 27 September at Doug Duncan Drive from 6pm-8pm.

Voters, if they so choose, will be able to ask Vegh to his face to identify the "handful of developers" who bankrolled him. I hope his answers are captured on cell phones.

The list of donors includes the movers and shakers in the development industry.

Tom Vegh sold out years ago.

He dances to their tune and has the brass neck to deny it.

And he refuses to defend his record in a public debate with me - chaired by someone of his own choosing.

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Tom Vegh takes tens of thousands of dollars from people in the development industry - and I don't.

He is in their pocket and I am not.

It really is as simple as that.

From today's Toronto Star.

Click 'read more" below the photo to read the full article.

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Tom Vegh won the 2018 regional council election on the back of barrow-loads of money from people in the development industry. 

They gave him tens of thousands of dollars.

And he paid them back handsomely by voting for development which will eat up green fields and pave them over. 

That's a big deal. 

Vegh voted for York Region's flawed Official Plan and Newmarket's Mayor, John Taylor, voted against.

Leadership you can count on

Vegh posts a photo on Facebook holding his new lawn sign.

No mention of his fatuous and misleading 2018 slogan:

Leadership you can count on

Nothing this time about focussing on your priorities.

A new Library and Seniors' Centre

What happened to his signature election promise to deliver a new Library and Seniors' Centre?

In 2018 he told the voters the time for talking was over.

Both promises were abandoned the day after the election. He was unwilling and unable to argue the case with his council colleagues. He folded without even fighting his corner.

In 40 ordinary meetings of York Regional Council in the 2018-2022 term Vegh did not table a single motion in his name, bringing it forward for debate.  

Getting Results

He says he has been on the Council for 20 years and has a "demonstrated track record of getting results".

What precisely is he claiming credit for?

One week ago I challenged Vegh to a public debate at Newmarket Public Library with a moderator (or umpire) of his own choosing in the Chair. I gave him three dates, asking him to pick the one that was most convenient for him.

Nothing. Not even the courtesy of a reply.

Just radio silence.

Timid Tom Vegh.

Afraid to debate the issues. 

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Vegh tells his Facebook readers: 

"As a 20-year sitting member on Newmarket Council, I have a solid understanding of your issues and needs, and a demonstrated track record of getting results. I will continue working on your behalf, to build on Newmarket’s success and enhance the quality of life in our neighbourhoods. I will ensure we continue to receive value for our tax dollars and that high-quality services are delivered in a professional and cost-efficient manner."

"I was raised in Newmarket and raised my family here. I love Newmarket and the responsibility that comes with planning the future of our great town. I know the job and I am ready to keep working hard for you and with you to ensure Newmarket remains the best place to live, work and raise families."

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