Andy Martens withdraws from municipal election

NEWS RELEASES

ANDY MARTENS CANDIDATE FOR CITY COUNCIL - WARD 1

************************* 8:44 p.m. update

I have e-mailed the City clerk this evening, asking him to withdraw my name as a candidate for councillor in Ward 1 in the 2010 municipal election.

Feel it is the right thing to do at this time.

Good luck to all candidates in the election,

Andy

************************* Original release - 5:13 p.m.

This community should know that my intent was to be a value-added element as a private citizen to offer solutions for air travel in Sault Ste Marie.

It was never my intent to enter into "primary negotiations" with the airline as a private citizen.

I take full responsibility for my poor choice of words, and have apologized by e-mail to the CEO of Porter Airlines.

I followed proper procedure keeping all the parties informed of my actions, including Councillor Caicco.

This was done out of deep love for this community.

I wanted to provide Sault Ste. Marie the facts of what happened.

I have always been a person that follows process in everything I do.

This time it was a poor choice of words on my part which has created this situation.

I accept full responsibility for my actions.

If elected in October, will ask the mayor to officially work on the airline committee.

Cheers, Andy

************************* Earlier SooToday.com coverage of this story

Airline denies 'primary negotiations' with Andy Martens