Long-time Newmarket Ward 5 Councillor Joe Sponga resigns

yorkregion.com
June 28, 2016
By Chris Simon

Joe Sponga is stepping down.

The long-time Newmarket Ward 5 councillor announced during a council meeting Monday night he has vacated his seat, effective immediately. In a short and vague statement that was laced with innuendo about potential lawsuits and code of conduct complaints, Sponga said he is walking away from municipal politics because he will not expose his family to a “potential media and court spat”.

Sponga apologized to the residents of Newmarket, specifically those in his ward, for the decision.

“I’m sorry to leave you at this time,” he said. “My values and work ethics are based on a collaborative, inclusive, creative and progressive environment. We’ve shared many debates in this spirit. I’m at a crossroads and the path ahead is marred with controversy, potential lawsuits, Code of Conduct complaints. This is not the path of positive and constructive work that defines me. I will not engage personal resources to fight these allegations. I will now excuse myself from these chambers knowing I have accomplished great work and I did not compromise my honesty or integrity.”

Sponga then addressed Mayor Tony Van Bynen by bidding “farewell”, stood up and left the chambers through a back door.

Council is less than halfway through its term and Sponga’s decision leaves the municipality with some uncertainly as to how to replace him. Council will meet sometime in July to determine the next step - likely laying the groundwork for a by-election or an appointment to fill the seat.

Sponga was one of the most outspoken and controversial councillors this term.

He resigned from the Main Street District Business Improvement Area's board of directors months ago, following a nasty and bitter battle with several other board members. At the time, he said many of the other board members have created an environment of distrust - specifically referencing a December motion regarding the Main Street clock tower proposal.

The board became highly politicized after the last municipal election, when people who didn’t support his campaign for re-election took seats around the table, he said.

Town records also revealed Sponga had the weakest attendance of anyone on council this term, as of a few months ago. At the time, he said a minor health issue affected his attendance last spring and summer.

Sponga has been involved in the revitalization of the downtown, in various capacities, for the last two decades. He supported the revitalization of the Main Street Heritage District, pushed for the development of Riverwalk Commons, played an integral role in the development of the Newmaket Jazz Festival and called for the adoption of a pesticide ban and anti-idling bylaws.

He co-founded the Newmarket farmers market and is a director at the Newmarket Food Pantry.

Sponga had represented the ward since 2003.

The Era attempted to contact Sponga for comment Tuesday morning, but he declined the request for an interview.

Watch yorkregion.com for more on this situation as it develops.