Two mayoral candidates caught violating election rules

Mayoral candidates Matthew Shoemaker and Donna Hilsinger were advised today that their campaign materials violate rules on using city resources for election purposes.

"This does contravene the city's policy," Tessa Vecchio, corporate communications officer, said this afternoon, referring to Instagram advertisements purchased by Donna Hilsinger, inappropriately showing the city logo.

"We have contacted two of the mayoral candidates requesting the removal of the city logo and symbols from their election materials," Vecchio said.

The other candidate is Matthew Shoemaker.

Shoemaker told SooToday that he was asked to remove a photograph of the city flag from his 13-page platform statement and from materials he's distributing door-to-door.

SooToday also reached out to Hilsinger, but had not heard back as of publication time.

The city's policy on use of corporate resources for election purposes is based on the Municipal Elections Act.

It stipulates that city-owned resources of all kinds – including logos, photographs, cell phones, tablets, automobile and fuel – must not be used for electioneering activities. 

City Clerk Rachel Tyczinski said both candidates immediately agreed to remove the offending images from their campaign materials.