Stouffville mayor's supporters believe he's "the best mayor we've had in years"

Stouffville residents attended Mayor Justin Altmann's and wife's baby shower, denying the accuracy of news that he may have breached ethics.

Yorkregion.com
March 4, 2018
By Fatima Syed

News that the mayor of Whitchurch-Stouffville could be barred from the town offices after an ethics investigation did not stop his supporters from coming out on a sunny Sunday afternoon to celebrate the forthcoming birth of his first child.

Diane Ward, a resident of Stouffville since 1972, is upset by all the negative coverage surrounding Mayor Justin Altmann and vehemently denies the accuracy of what's been reported. "He's not being allowed to speak up," she said.

Ward has known Altmann since he was a young boy and volunteered at the local fair. She remembers telling him not to go into politics - "I told him, don't spoil your life" — but Altmann "was not going in for his ego."

"He silently helps people," said Ward. She lists examples: he shovelled someone's driveway without telling them; he once picked up someone's garbage that had been knocked over. And, at his wedding, he asked people to donate to her accessibility trailer. (According to Ward, she received $52,000.)

The whole town was invited to the baby shower held in honour of Altmann and his wife, Jenny. Posters were put up around the town of 45,845 residents and circulated on Facebook. The flowers were arranged by his aunt; the cake made by the same person who designed their wedding cake seven months ago, almost to the day. The whole town was invited then too.

Gifts were not asked for but brought by the 50 to 100 people that spent their Sunday afternoon in the event space at the Eastridge Church. Jenny Altmann asked for donations to be made to the Markham-Stouffville Hospital's child care centre in lieu of presents.

The shower was paid for entirely by Altmann and his wife, according to members of his staff. The happy couple greeted all guests like old friends - a peck on the cheek, a bear-hug, a long handshake. They were not available for comment.

"Nothing political today," announced a man in attendance, grumpily when it was announced the Star was in attendance.

Ward insists that there is more to the story than what has been reported. "No one should have been there," said Ward, emphasising that the wall was part of a private bathroom. "And it wasn't the cleaners."

Jim Doble, a former Stouffville councillor in the 1970s, said the mayor is getting "a raw deal."

"No one's asked what he was trying to figure out," said Doble, who recalls doing something similar when volunteering in Africa years ago to figure things out. "How do you figure anything out without knowing the players?"

"He's the best mayor we've had in years," said Doble. "He is smart. He is honest. He has integrity."