A rally outside Peterborough City Hall is planned for this Monday (June 9), with a demand for city council transparency, respect and accountability the rallying cry.
Billed as the Rally for Integrity, the 5 p.m. protest is being held in the aftermath of a June 2nd council decision that no penalty be imposed upon Mayor Jeff Leal in the wake of an Integrity Commissioner finding that he contravened a Code of Conduct section back in April. The commissioner found Mayor Leal intimidated Councillor Alex Bierk, and further, bullied Councillor Joy Lachica.
Council voted 7-3 against any penalty being imposed, with councillors Bierk, Lachica and Keith Riel voting against that motion. That has resulted is a storm of social media protest against council support of the mayor, who apologized earlier for his conduct.
Rally co-organizer Danielle Turpin was at that council meeting.
Turpin says the message sent by the council vote not to reprimand Mayor Leal is as disturbing as it is wrong.
Turpin outlines what she, and many others, would have liked to have heard from Mayor Leal.
Beyond the rally, Turpin predicts the 2026 municipal election will see a slate of candidates for council coming forward as a result of this matter.
(Written by: Paul Rellinger)
