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“It’s taxpayer dollars, and I think it’s pretty rich for three months of work,” said Department 13 Earl Dan McLean.
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April 28, 2022 • 14 hours ago • 2 minutes reading • 35 comments Stephen Carter, then Chief of Staff to newly elected Mayor Joti Gondek posed for a photo in front of City Hall on Thursday, October 21, 2021. Azin Ghaffari / Postmedia
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Former mayor’s chief of staff Joti Gondek received a six-figure allowance when he was fired in February after less than 100 days in office.
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Stephen Carter received $ 104,166.65 in compensation, according to a February 2 letter from Gondek to Carter received by Postmedia through the Freedom of Information Act.
The longtime political strategist led Gondek’s campaign for mayor last fall and was appointed head of the mayor’s office when he took office. He was abruptly fired just over three months later, and it later became known that many city councilors had filed complaints against him.
In a statement Thursday, Carter said he had never been given a reason for his dismissal. He offered the city to pay the compensation in accordance with his contract in order to avoid legal action.
“I think my departure was granted for two reasons: to make sure I was not talking about the unfair nature of my dismissal and to avoid awkward litigation,” Carter said.
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“Having said that, the separation was not tied to a waiver of litigation. If (the apologies) for me and my character continue, I may be prompted to take action in court. “
Speaking to Postmedia, Carter said he had not signed any non-disclosure measures with the city, nor an agreement that he would not sue.
He did not rule out the possibility, saying his “reputation continues to drag on” after his dismissal.
A spokesman for the mayor’s office declined to comment on the compensation, saying it was a staffing problem.
One councilor who was critical of Carter was the 13th councilor. Dan McLean, who told Postmedia in February that he had run into Carter, added: “It’s right to describe him as a bully.” At the time, Carter denied the allegations of harassment, which were also passed on to Postmedia by two high-ranking city sources.
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McLean said Thursday that he was “very shocked” to learn that Carter had received compensation, saying he understood that the former chief of staff had not received any payment for his dismissal.
McLean said the Calgary deserved an answer as to why Carter had been released.
“What I’d like to see here is more transparency,” McLean said. “Why was he fired? This is a big question. It has always been buried in “it’s a matter of staff” or “we don’t need to know”. But I think taxpayers have a right to know.
“It’s taxpayer dollars and I think he’s pretty rich for three months of work.”
Well, Blanchett took over as Gondek’s chief of staff after Carter’s dismissal.
“With files from Megan Potkins and Madeleine Smith.”
jherring@postmedia.com
Twitter: @jasonfherring
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