Woolwich Mayor 'not fulfilling mayoral duties' after campaign audit confusion

Woolwich Mayor Sandy Shantz has been automatically removed from office for not submitting an audit of her campaign finances by a provincially mandated deadline.

Municipal politicians whose campaign contributions were in excess of $10,000 were required to submit an audit by March 27 under the provincial Municipal Elections Act. 

Shantz said in an interview with CBC News she initially contributed $5,500 of her own money to her campaign. She then received around $6,500 from external contributors, which meant she had received roughly $12,000 in campaign contributions.

But Shantz said she felt she didn't need that much money to run her campaign.

So she then took back $2,600 in contributions she made to her own campaign. That means in total, she received a net total of around $9,400 in campaign contributions, which she believed absolved her of the need to file an audit.

"It was more than I needed for my expenses. It had nothing to do with the $10,000. It was more than I needed to cover my expenses," said Shantz.

However, under the township's interpretation of the act, all contributions counted toward the grand total, regardless of whether they were later revoked.

Due to the "strict wording" in the Municipal Elections Act, the township then concluded Shantz is "technically in default" for missing the deadline, which means she cannot hold office until the next election.

Shantz did submit an audit to the Municipal Elections Compliance Audit Committee at a hearing last week, well after the Mar. 27 deadline.

Township spokesperson Devin Petteplace says a solicitor representing Shantz intends to make an application before the Superior Court to allow her to remain in office.

"Reflecting that this matter will be before the court, the statue of the Office of Mayor for the Township of Woolwich will be determined by a superior court judge at an as yet to be determined date," Petteplace said in an email to CBC News.

​Shantz defeated incumbent Todd Cowan in last October's municipal election, after his campaign was marred by fraud accusations.

• Todd Cowan, former Woolwich mayor, charged with fraud and breach of trust

• Todd Cowan, Woolwich mayor, faces new double-billing allegations

Cowan was accused of double-billing the region and the township for $2,770, and double-billing the Grand River Conservation Authority and the township $465.62. He has since been charged by the Ontario Provincial Police with fraud under $5,000 and breach of trust.