Riding association seeks new prez

There are two sides to every story, says George Onley, Executive Vice-President of the Nipissing-Timiskaming Federal Liberal Association executive.

Onley was referring to the resignation Tuesday of association president Carol Lonsdale, who left saying she found the situation “intolerable.”

But, Onley said, “there are two sides to every story and all we’re hearing is one side of the story.”

At the same time, Onley said, he didn’t want to “wash dirty laundry out in public.”

Four other members of the association, including North Bay vice-president Don Curry, who said Lonsdale was not appreciated, have also resigned.

Hard time adapting
Lonsdale told BayToday.ca that as president, she had been yelled at and subjected to “verbal abuse, threats and a lack of ethics” from Nipissing members of the executive.

Liberal candidate Anthony Rota said the new riding association has been operating” a little bit different” than Lonsdale was used to.

"Carol had a hard time adapting to it, because some people have a hard time adapting to change,” Rota said.

Lonsdale responded by saying she wasn’t used “to the fighting, to the controversy, and I didn’t adapt well to the way everything was figured out in the back room.”

Get on with the job
Onley, new to the executive, said he hadn’t been privy to any instances where Lonsdale was yelled at or insulted.

“I do feel sorry for the lady, but nobody fired her or asked her to resign, and I don’t think this is a matter to be settled in the public forum,” Onley said.

“The point is we now have to get on with the job of finding a new president.”

Three days to complete
A motion is currently being circulated by email and phone to every current executive member outlining the process for appointing Lonsdale’s replacement.

“We anticipate that this will take about three days to complete,” Onley said.

“Once the process has been completed and we can confirm the name of the new president, this information will be forwarded to the media.”

North Bay tax lawyer Greg Ducharme, who lost to Lonsdale in the race for the presidency, said he won’t seek the top job.