Mayor apologizes (includes full text)

Saying he feared "another CAO scandal and wanted to stop it before anything got started," Mayor John Rowswell has nonetheless apologized for going "ballistic" last week in an Email sent to Joe Fratesi, the city's chief administrative officer.

Rowswell is still in Russia. He apologized in a letter to the editor of the Sault Star. The letter was forwarded to the newspaper by Rowswell's wife Donna, who told SooToday.com that she's demanding an apology for the Star's decision to write a front-page article about the letter without publishing it in its entirety.

The full text of Rowswell's letter follows. This document is presented exactly as received, with no attempt to correct faulty grammar: ************************************************************************** Letter to the editor

I have not been able to get to the Internet since I left Bratsk for Moscow or even now in Yakutsk. I understand through my wife when I called her on Valentine's Day, that people are trying to contact me. Travel and communication is not easy in Russia and I think it will be middle of next week before access to internet is gained and I can answer any emails that are there. My trip is very well received by the Russian cities so far by Bratsk and Yakutsk. Krasnoyarsk will be visited early next week.

I understand that my email response has been leaked to the press. I am disappointed over this for two reasons. First it was leaked (seems very common around our City Hall). Secondly, I was so upset upon receiving CAO's Email. I had asked John Lusaka if there was any concern over the rumor that CAO was looking to hire Councilor Brandt at City Hall. John could have emailed back "NO", however, he talked to CAO who sent his email. Please appreciate that I had envisioned another CAO scandal and wanted to stop it before anything got started. Councilor Brandt does spend a lot of time in CAO's office, so I have learned that almost anything is possible at our City Hall. I do not trust Councilor Brandt either.

When CAO reminded me about taxpayer's dollars and accountability I took this as a personal attack from someone that got to keep the CAO position after after six charges of being in conflict. I went ballistic, and I used words that are not normally used by myself. Because my letter was released to the press, I am embarrassed for my poor words used. For this I would like to apologize to my community, some of my wording was totally inappropriate. I would like to apologize to City Hall staff that may have got trapped between Mr. Fratesi and myself.

I have received the $1,500 USD for expenses through the mother of my daughter's pen pal. The sending of this money through her seemed to me at the time, the only way that I could get expense money that was prematurely spent in Japan. I understand, that the treasurer's department said the Visa cards for cash would work, but they did not.

When in Bratsk, Russia, I always stay with the family of my daughter's pen pal. With my own money, I do pay them reasonable room and board, which could be a month's salary for the mother and makes the difference for them in a big way. I stay with them because it is a safety concern.

I am afraid to stay at Russian hotels because of the solicitation throughout the night. When I am forced this trip to stay at a normal Russian hotel, I have asked my hosts to post security to protect my privacy. Life is much different in Russia than we know it; it is not easy yet I feel strongly that an opportunity is available for our community with Transpolar Air Cargo. We are being well received by the Russian cities so far.

It is not my wish to be away from my wife and family for three weeks. I miss them dearly. I do this because I see an opportunity and I feel it needs to be pushed right now. I ask the community for forgiveness for using words totally inappropriate for the position of trust in which you place me. My passion for jobs and growth in our community is my top priority. We as a City Council are trying.

John Rowswell From Yakutsk

To receive free, real-time updates of SooToday.com's exclusive coverage of local news, just send an Email with "SUBSCRIBE" in the subject line to [email protected].