‘EXCLUSIVE’ BREAKING NEWS: Boundary Similkameen MLA John Slater NOT Running in May 2013
I just spoke to Independent Boundary Similkameen MLA, John Slater, in a lengthy conversation.
Nice man. Very nice man. But conflicted and tired–without question.
In the half hour off the record conversation we had, he did go on the record for just a moment.
“Alex, I’ve decided I’m actually NOT going to run in May. The last week has taught me that politics is too tough on people’s families, and I’ve done enough and just think it’ll be too tough on my family if I go again. I just wanted you to know that, and I appreciate how you’ve treated me.”
Whatever else Slater is, he’s a pretty down-to-earth guy in a business that routinely eats people alive.
Retiring from politics? It’s the smart move. He was smeared by the BC Liberal party on his way out the door. You do not make statements about people’s personal lives unless you have proof–and show that proof. The BC Liberals showed no proof of Slater being a drunk. Does he drink? I bet he does, and if he over imbibes, that’s between him and his liver, as long as he’s functional. But the smear, I think, plus other information I managed to corral, led this otherwise good guy to the smart decision.
Good for him.
He did, in fact, get back to me well before my deadline yesterday (as did a staff member of Marji Basso’s–she’s still hiding from me and sending out surrogates).
So Slater is done (and if Basso has any decency whatsoever she’ll immediately resign from her position as candidate for the NDP in Boundary Similkameen–or the NDP should show some unwavering ethical standards and fire her forthwith).
Best wishes to Slater in his retirement.
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I’m back Monday. Feel free to open up over the weekend on any topic in the comments section of this post. I’ll be checking in frequently.
It’s icy out there. Please be careful.
Be well.
Hello Alex, my father is a long time NDP member in both West Kootenay and in Boundary area. I called him 20 minutes ago and asked him what was up with Marji Basso after I read your story to him. He didn’t know, but DOES NOT like her. He called me 5 minutes after we hung up and said he just got a phone call from a long time NDP member and said that the Trail radio station has reported she is stepping down as candidate. Whatever you have, it must be big.
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Hi Leanne. How wonderful to have you here. Yes, it was a huge story, which I’m thankful I no longer need to do. It would have been hurtful to the Slater family and to the Bassos–particularly their children. Slater has two adult daughters, so I’d be a tad less worried about how they would process the inappropriate connection between their father and Marji Basso.
It was a huge story, in the sense that it demonstrated how human failure can be devastating not just to the parties involved. Slater, to his credit, never pretended to be perfect–far from it–he was very down-to-earth in my conversations with him, and appears a really good man, but flawed. Basso, on the other hand, came across as over-torqued and summarily aggressive. Just very narcissistic. I’m so very glad they both did the right thing and resigned plans to run again. Even though some idiots on twitter have accused me of bullying both Slater and Basso. If they knew the details, they’d never say or write that again. EVER. The ethical breach both Slater and particularly BAsso committed was astounding.
Anyway, glad it’s over.
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Adrian Dix!!!
Pay Attention to what just happened to Slater & Basso!!!
Be a status quo Dix – and you could be next!!!
Do right by the people of this province – start with a full, no bullshit, independant judicial inquiry of B.C.Rail – and don’t stop there – or you too might be subject to the rath of The Tsakuminator!!!
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Oh well, at least Marji Basso still has a job where ethical standards are not quite as high.
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Yeah, she’s still on Oliver council.
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Some days it easier to be a pyromaniac than others.
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I quit years ago.
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When you are in public office, being “nice” doesn’t cut it. My brief personal experience with John Slater some months back demonstrated to me that the man is morally and ethically challenged. He could also be described as a man of weak character and bad judgement. Without going into details, I am relieved that he is not running again for office as he would be a liability to any political party and should not hold office. End of story.
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Fair enough.
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Marji Basso is no longer a Councillor in the Town of Oliver.
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Yes, we got that correction, thank you. My error and that of a couple of my readers. Thank you, again.
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So what did they do? There’s all the slur, but no info. Somebody get talking.
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No slur.
Why don’t you ask Ms. Basso?
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AGT, fact is Ms. Basso is no longer on council she didn’t run in the last election in order to concentrate on Provincial politics. The job that she still goes to is that of a teacher. I truly hope that your judgemental slurs don’t influence problems in her remaining professional life.
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1) Quite right, she’s no longer on council. My error.
2) You’re a fool. I’m hardly judgemental. I thought the light treatment I gave it was appropriate and measured. Why don’t you ask her what she did?
3) Coming here and pretending you know something, which you really don’t, is almost comical. It was a very serious matter.
4) Her comportment as a teacher has absolutely nothing to do with this. As far as I’m aware, she’s a great teacher and respected in her field.
5) Do you know something the rest of us don’t? Do tell!
6) If you have the strength of your conviction, then use your full name and tell us what “slurs” I committed to. Please, go right ahead.
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And you sir, are a santimonious ass if you think your treatment was light, appropriate and measured. Bullying two people into contacting in you in order for you not to “spill the beans” is not what I would call light treatment.
I don’t care to know any of the “dirty little secrets” you have felt was so harmful to the politics of the Boundary Similkameen. What I do know (like many others in our constituency), is that Marji is not only a well respected teacher but has worked hard to do many many good things as a politician in our small community. After the dust settles on this Marji will still have the support and respect of many in our town.
My strong convictions are; that this whole thing (your forcing two politicians to bow out because of threat of exposure) has been dirty and slimy. As for using my full name, I wouldnt want to give the opportunity for anyone to dredge up dirt on me and blackmail me.
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It’s truly unfathomable that someone could possibly have his head as far up his ass as you, but I’ll try this for you one last time.
1) I didn’t bully anyone into anything. I gave them several hours to finally return numerous calls I had left for both over many days. Neither one originally had the conviction (in your friend Basso’s case, read: courage) to face the information I’d received. I had a witness and documents. I wanted them confirmed. That’s what a responsible writer does. Slater showed uncommon honesty and integrity. Your pal Marji, hid behind some stooge at NDP central. What does that say to any fair-minded individual? He’s a straight shooter willing to face his demons. She’s still pretending she’s perfect. You’re a complete idiot for not appreciating this angle of thee story. Sometimes, we need to provide friends tough love to get them through. You’re content to attack me. Well, good for you. Moron.
2) I never threatened to spill the beans. I made it clear that I was conflicted and would not decide if I was even going to do the story UNTIL MONDAY, you idiot. Learn to read. I wrote my post requesting they call on THURSDAY. If I was blackmailing or bullying anyone I would have called, and taken whatever comment they gave and just run the piece.
3) There weren’t any “dirty little secrets.” There were major ethical breaches by both–and personal ethical breaches by both–although your pal Marji eclipsed John Slater by several magnitudes in this latter category.
4) I have already made clear that I discovered her reputation as a teacher to be impeccable. I have a summer home in Naramata. I travel to Oliver and Osoyoos every summer with my family, as well Kelowna and as far up as Vernon. I know a great number of people in both his community and hers. In fact, outside of the Lower Mainland and the Island, my most concentrated readership is from the Okanagan. They were very helpful with background. I acknowledged the respect she’d earned in my previous response to you. If anything, you should be thanking me for leaving the story alone, as I did what remains of her reputation a major league favour.
5) Being a shill is one thing, but being stupid is quite another. Do you understand how your coming across? You don’t care that your friend was living a lie, and public officials, to you, needn’t have any ethical standing at all. Maybe you should ask Adrian Dix, and several high profiles NDP MLAs what they thought about the information I presented.
6) Your strong convictions? Sir, do you even have a conscience? You are an inveterate coward. I spared the mother of two little children the embarrassment of her life–that’s the bottom line. At least now, she has a chance to save what’s left and perhaps rehabilitate herself and one day show the world she’s changed. In case it’s lost on you, the person who afforded her such generous quarter, considering her gargantuan ethical transgressions, was me. Re-enter public life? She’d be crazy.
7) I never forced either Slater or Basso out of running in Boundary-Similkameen. They bowed out voluntarily after having a look in the proverbial mirror.
Finally, there were FOUR other members of the media hot on the story. I got it before they did. Say none of us ran with it, and at some point during the campaign anyone of us decided to do it. Both candidates gone. Both lives ruined. Both campaigns imploded.
The way I did it was utterly professional and completely above-board. I didn’t tape anyone. I didn’t snooker anyone into anything.
And two little kids don’t have to ever read about how contemptibly foolish their mum ever was when in 2012, she was telling everyone what a super candidate she was.
Go away, stupid, stupid, stupid coward.
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So just to be clear… I am a moron, a coward, 3x stupid and have my head up my ass, yet you are not a bully?
Your investigating report needs some work. If you had done some background investigation you would have realized that Ms. Basso’s “two little children” that you magnanimously saved from they embarrassment of their mother’s (so called) transgressions, are 15 and 19 years old and are more than likely fully aware of what’s gone on… No thanks to you.
I will go away, not because I have been told by a self righteous gossip monger but because I no longer wish to perpetuate your proverbial hard on for justifying how right you are to have saved our community from the evils of Marji Basso.
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1) Correct, you are all of those things, as evidenced by your comments here. Their observations, from materials which makes the conclusions OBVIOUS, if not demonstrably true. None of those make me a bully. I realize this is a fashionable phrase to attack those of us in the business of calling you frauds and idiots like you, but it doesn’t make the attempted insult, on your part, any more accurate. If anything, it just serves to showcase that my conclusions about you are bang on.
2) Teens are children to me. I was well aware of their ages. They’re very young. I never suggested they were babies. Again, learn to read.
3) Basso’s transgressions aren’t phantom accusations. She was portraying herself as the ideal candidate while having a completely inappropriate personal relationship with an opponent. I’m just wondering, since you’re being such an insufferable asshole, would you like me to do the story, coward? Would you? That way you wouldn’t be able to make such bullshit statements. She resigned immediately. As did Slater. Not evidence enough for you?
4) Lots of thanks to me! The details, you moron, will never come out, unless you continue to pretend nothing happen. Badgering me isn’t helping your cause. Fair warning.
5) The information isn’t in the least bit gossip. It clearly shows a woman drunk on power, seeking more power–through unethical means–likely only to become more drunk on the same climb. She’s totally unfit for public service, no matter how hard you pump her story. She’s not told you the details as thy exist, and you’re clearly not that bright, so you come here to irritate me and spike my story with what you think you know. You know nothing.
If you come around again, I will simply publish EVERY DETAIL–her every text, her every comment, and then you can go ahead and tell Ms. Perfect that it was you that finally got the whole thing out in the open. Congratulations, moron.
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Hi Alex. The story likened to a Latin soap opera was reported on CBC Radio at 5:30. Ms Basso won’t return their calls nor will the office comment. You were kind-of-sort-of mentioned having broken the story about “issues” they had. You were not named but apparently to add to your list of character traits, you are now stuck with the monikor “gad-fly”. Is this a new one? Why were they so circumspect about naming you and giving you credit?
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Because CBC radio is loaded with jealous people. Completely mindless.
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Gotcha.
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