WATCH: A former Nanaimo city councillor who resigned part way through the last term wants back in. Wendy Pratt resigned following a meeting where she swatted a camera from the hands of the city’s then chief administrative officer. Now she’s planning to run for city council again though she still doesn’t want to discuss what happened that day. Kendall Hanson reports.
It may have seemed like the video, captured at an in-camera meeting, marked the end of Wendy Pratt’s political career.
The Nanaimo councillor resigned after being caught on camera swatting a phone out of the hands of former Chief Administrative Officer Tracy Samra.
But now Pratt says she ready to return and she’s announced she’s running in the upcoming municipal election.
Despite the upcoming election, Pratt declined an interview with CHEK News. She says “I am keenly aware that the interest in me lies in what happened previously and other than addressing it as the elephant in the room on the web, I won’t be speaking about it. I want the campaign to be about moving forward.”
Nanaimo’s outgoing mayor says he’s not surprised she’s trying for a comeback.
“I think it was an interesting choice,” said Mayor Bill McKay.
“I believe there are some people in the community who are very passionate about supporting her and others not so much.”
The mayor says Pratt brings a strong resume from the not-for-profit sector, she does her homework and he has “all the respect for her”.
Coun. Gord Fuller and Pratt’s former colleague has a different view.
“They can see how and what happened and make their own decisions on that,” said Fuller. “I witnessed something I thought I’d never have to witness as a city councillor.”
Despite the scandals that plagued Nanaimo council over the past few years, Fuller is also running for re-election.
He says it is ultimately up to the electorate to decide if any of those who’ve served on the current council deserve another chance.
Kendall Hanson
