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GUEST COLUMN — In 1995, 11 proud and resourceful communities were brought together to unite our people into a new strong city, speaking with one voice and with the goal of working for the common good of all citizens.

In 2004, I had the privilege of being chosen by the citizens as your mayor and to work with 12 councillors from all parts of the city to advance the common interests of our community.

We have accomplished much, and it is obvious with the renewal of downtown Chatham, and downtown Newcastle, the exciting retail investments in Douglastown, Ferry Road and significant infrastructure improvements in Chatham Parish and Chatham Head-Nelson.

All of this has been done in a spirit of co-operation on council, very much needed in the face of the most catastrophic economic challenges our valley has faced in decades.

Every year since 2004 we have been hit with a devastating economic crisis which has resulted in over 1,200 of our citizens losing their jobs.

Today we as a community must more than ever before stand united and strong to ensure our community survives and goes on to future prosperity.

Of late, however, council, I feel, has lost its focus and has become pre-occupied with an issue commonly known as the Peter Nevin buyout.

Mr. Nevin is an employee of the Chatham Rink Association and is the manager of the Lord Beaverbrook Arena.

The Lord Beaverbrook Arena is owned by the city and the taxpayers of Miramichi have for decades paid the bills to operate this facility.

Although the city owns the arena, a commission known as the Chatham Rink Association has for several years been given the authority to operate the facility with Peter Nevin as manager.

In 2007, for efficiency and economic reasons, the city council decided to assume the operation and to transfer the Lord Beaverbrook Arena to the city's recreation department. All five Lord Beaverbrook Arena employees, including Mr. Nevin, were offered employment with the city with enhanced pay and benefits.

Peter Nevin was asked to assume management of both city arenas in Chatham and Newcastle, with an enhanced salary and benefits.

All employees of the Lord Beaverbrook Rink except Mr. Nevin accepted the offer of employment with the city.

It was Mr. Nevin's preference to decline to work for the city and instead demand a very rich financial buyout, even after being offered employment with the city.

On Oct. 17, 2007, the Chatham Rink Association advised the city council in writing it would not agree to the Lord Beaverbrook Arena being transferred to the city until and unless Peter Nevin received a financial buyout to his satisfaction, in effect holding this city-owned rink hostage until a ransom was paid.

At the council meeting of March 27, 2008, Deputy Mayor Rupert Bernard introduced a motion to council to approve Peter Nevin's financial buyout at a cost to the city taxpayers of close to $130,000, plus a pension. This buyout includes a free health-care plan not available to any other long-term employee directly employed by the city.

This motion for Peter Nevin's buyout passed six to five on council and has resulted in a great deal of division and acrimony at the council table.

Old rivalries and spiteful allegations were introduced into the debate in defense of the buyout for Mr. Nevin.

On Monday, March 31, Coun. John McLaughlin continued to assault the staff and council with what I consider to be an outrageous and discredited smear campaign against anyone who was opposed to the Peter Nevin buyout.

This issue has sadly inserted a poisonous and divisive element into our community when more urgent and serious issues should be our focus.

I have nothing personal against Mr. Nevin and I think he would be a good employee for our city. I would prefer that he accept the job as manager for our two rinks, but I cannot accept such a rich buyout for a man who has been offered employment but who prefers to resign instead.

I have worked full-time for the past few years to ensure fairness and unity in our city, but I cannot in principal support this agreement with Mr. Nevin at a time when our city is under serious financial stress.

Nor can I as mayor put my signature to an agreement imposed upon me by council, an agreement that I feel is wrong and which singles out one individual for what I feel is special treatment.

Therefore, I reluctantly withdrew my candidacy for mayor in the upcoming municipal election.

May 12 is an opportunity for our citizens to elect a new council that will turn from the old rivalries and grievances of the past.

May 12 also presents an opportunity for our citizens to say "no" to the old jealousy and parochialism that have for decades threatened to divide us.

This election presents an opportunity for a new council with a fresh commitment to unity and financial responsibility to bring our city to a bright and prosperous future.

May our Miramichi be the better for it.