WHO ARE THESE MAYORAL CANDIDATES

By Joe Ingino Those who read my column on a regular basis will note how critical I am of municipal elected officials. Election time proves my theory that good intentions and pretenders just don’t cut the mustard. Now, let’s turn our attention to current downtown Oshawa councillor and mayoral candidate Derek Giberson. A council member who had the opportunity to turn the core around and has done nothing. For some magical reason, he is now under the impression that he can run the City.In his defence, if Carter ran it, I guess just about anyone can. Then again, look at the quality of life and the general appearance of the core. This Giberson is the same character who pushed for all kinds of social services and drug-related services to be allowed in the core. Open drug use has no place in society. This Giberson is the same person who has wasted your tax dollars persecuting downtown businesses, former political challengers and the like. Were those tax dollars well spent? He does not appear to care. It is not his money.In my opinion, this character does not belong in politics. A third-rate politician with no real working experience. SAY NO TO GIBERSON. I am not the only one to share these sentiments. In a Facebook post, Downtown Oshawa Uncensored had this to say:DEREK GIBERSON — RECORD ON PUBLIC DRUG USE AND DRUG DEALERS October 2025 Motion(The Lone Dissenting Vote): A motion went to the floor declaring that flagrant public drug use and drug dealers in the city directly impede public safety and drug recovery efforts. The Action: The motion passed nearly unanimously by a 10–1 vote. Councillor Derek Giberson was the only councillor out of 11 to vote against it. DISASTER CANDIDATE FOR MAYOR OF OSHAWAGreg Plummer from the group was noted as stating:“Begs the questions: Is he a drug user? Does he have close friends or family who are street dealers and users?”Jenn Baker replied:“Greg Plummer, he sure does advocate for them a lot! They don't even pay taxes!” A participant who went by the name Peanut Butters contributed: “The fact that he lives downtown and can see it outside his window, and gets woken up by this shit every night like the rest of us do, and yet he's unbothered by it, is actually really concerning. “There’s one thing to have sympathy for drug addicts, but when they affect the quality of one’s life — or a whole neighbourhood’s — you’d think you’d want them to move out of your neighbourhood ASAP.” Mike Minichiello commented: “There’s no stinking way in hell this guy would make a good mayor. He’s not even a half-decent councillor in Ward 4.“Mr. ‘Don’t Answer His Damn Constituents’ Emails’ about real concerns, instead catering to those who are costing the tax base. “He is a train wreck of a councillor, does nothing for his constituents, and now he wants to be mayor? I don’t think so. Not on my watch.” Mike Mell commented: “Maybe he was high when they ran that vote?” Amber Thompson commented: “Not surprising, as our councillor is nonexistent and doesn’t help anything or make any improvements to our lives down here. How embarrassing to vote against that! Your ward is a damn dumpster fire, and residents are past their breaking point for tolerance and understanding.”Renee McLaughlin commented: “The guy’s a loser. He needs to go, let alone run for mayor.” What has many people wondering is this: When will anyone see him campaigning? So far, he has been a ghost. People have called and can’t get through. Those who do get through never hear back.He is almost taking a page out of Tito-Dante’s playbook. The arrogance. This just tells us how bad the next four years could become.I would support anyone who has good intentions and anyone who cares about our City. Unfortunately, neither Giberson nor Tito has proven to be anything more than about themselves. Their only real concern appears to be staying in the system and continuing to suck on the City’s cash cow. Well, as usual, my week’s mouthful is about complete. But stay tuned, because next week I am going to be featuring another mayoral candidate with a Napoleon complex. None other than Dave Westlake — a self-professed business person with pie-in-the-sky plans but no real solutions. If I am wrong, come to my office and prove me wrong. I am a fair man.