Mississauga councillor getting called out for tough on crime campaign
Published September 28, 2022 at 3:28 pm
A Mississauga councillor’s stance on crime has taken some residents by surprise.
Photos of a campaign billboard for Ward 6 Coun. Ron Starr are circulating on social media. The billboard has a photo of Starr and the words “Vote Ron Starr” along with the message: “Say yes to being tough on crime in Mississauga” and “Stop the crime wave”.
Starr, a councillor for Ward 6 since 2010, is seeking re-election in the Oct. 24 municipal election.
But this summer the city’s Integrity Commissioner Robert Swayze found Starr engaged in harassment related to key scratches discovered on fellow councillor’s SUV. Council approved Swayze’s recommendation to suspended Starr’s pay for 60 days.
Coun. Karen Ras said her car had been vandalized on several occasions, and said she was being bullied. Ras later resigned. Peel Regional Police investigated and while no criminal charges were laid, Starr paid $1,250 for the damage to the car.
Starr did not respond to a request for comment on this story but he has denied that he vandalized Ras’ SUV.
“I maintain my innocence in this matter and will continue to fight to clear my name,” Starr said in a statement after the council decision. “I did not key Karen Ras’ vehicle or harass her as alleged. I take these allegations very seriously and I have gone to great lengths to prove my innocence, but the Integrity Commissioner has ignored all the evidence I put before him.”
Nevertheless, the billboard has appeared on Twitter and Reddit with people questioning his message on crime.
“At least he is consistent with his area of interest….” one person wrote on Twitter.
“Hysterically ironic,” another wrote.
— Michael Ras (@mike_ras) September 27, 2022
On Reddit, the post reads “Stop the Crime Wave! says the guy who lost 60 days pay for 8 vandalisms” but there are fewer responses.
“Wouldn’t it be great if his opponents put up signs beside his, agreeing with him and pointing out his vandalism?!” one person wrote. “Unfortunately, I doubt believe many people pay enough attention to municipal politics to know what he did.”
But another person said Starr is well-liked.
“People like him. He’s great at Euchre.”
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