Disgraced Mayoral Staffer Speaks
10 05 2008David Gibbons, former special advisor to Ottawa Mayor Larry O’Brien, is speaking out about his departure from the mayor’s office.
Gibbons recently joined a long list of staffers who have departed the mayor’s office since O’Brien was sworn in less than two years ago. He sat down with A-Channel’s Sandra Blaikie to discuss that memoriable day in which he called up CFRA, used the name “Tom” and failed to tell listeners that he actually worked for the mayor as he defended the mayor’s controversial snow tax plan. It was a huge mistake and it led to Gibbons’ departure.
Here’s what struck me in the interview (1:10 into the interview):
Reporter Sandra Blaikie: What were you thinking that day? That’s the question everybody in this city is wondering.
The advisor formerly known as “Tom”: You know.. the use of an alias I dont’ think was the problem. The problem was that I made the phone call in the first place.
I beg to disagree. The phone call and the views he expressed in the phone call indicated to me that he believed passionately in his bosses plan and had conviction to sell the idea of a snow tax. Perhaps he shouldn’t have called into the talk radio show but he’s free to voice his opinions and defend the mayor. However, the use of the alias is the problem and it indicated poor judgement and an attempt to deceive the public.
Gibbons (middle) along with Mike Patton (left) have left the mayor’s office. Brent Colbert (right) is one of the few original staffers since the mayor’s December 2006 swearing in who remain there today. When this photo was taken Walter Robinson was O’Brien’s Chief of Staff and O’Brien’s special assistant was Heather Tessier, the mayor’s niece. Both Robinson and Tessier have left O’Brien’s office as well.
It all begs the question “Who is next?”
Funny. I actually know Brent Colbert out in meatspace - he used to be a nieghbour and our kids went to school together. He is, on a personal level, quite a nice guy and very personable. He is also a True Believer in the Eric Hoffer sense of the word. To the point that most of the other parents that waited at the bus stop talked hockey rather than politics. If Larry killed and ate a baby on live TV, Brent would find a way to spin and justify it. He isn’t going anywhere….
Note he was also a big supporter of and worked for the campaigns of both Pierre Poilievre and Lisa McLeod. In fact, most of Larry’s staffers fit into that category.
I don’t know Brent at all. In fact I don’t really know anyone in the mayor’s office but I’ve heard Brent is very loyal. I’m thinking Eric will be the next to leave.