Joe Mancinelli says he isn't angry with Coun. Terry Whitehead, but he is feeling disappointed and betrayed.

The international vice-president of LIUNA donated $500 to Whitehead's re-election bid on the understanding the Ward 14 candidate supported Hamilton's light rail transit project.

But earlier this week, Whitehead announced he no longer backs LRT and threw his support behind mayoral candidate Vito Sgro, who opposes the project.

"I suppose I could ask for the donation back," Mancinelli says. "I haven't done that. The point of the matter is, it certainly creates a sense of disappointment and betrayal when these things happen."

For his part, Whitehead says he's prepared to return the donation if it was contingent on supporting LRT.

"I never understood that to be the case. I understood he supported me because I was a leader on council who got things done."

Be that as it may, Mancinelli says he's donated to several candidates across the city, all of whom support LRT and its promise of jobs and growth.

A strong believer in the development potential of the $1-billion provincially-funded project, Mancinelli notes his labourers' union has invested in property close to the projected LRT line by design, including the $300-million two-tower condo project at King and King William.

Mancinelli, who endorses Fred Eisenberger for mayor, appreciates some councillors only reluctantly supported LRT, that some represent wards which won't directly benefit from it from a transit perspective.

"I understand the dilemma they are in. But once a decision is made, I think there should be enough political backbone to stick with what you had agreed to in the first place."

He's surprised Whitehead changed his position so "late in the game."

"There's nothing worse in politics than flip-flopping all over the place. I think that makes for a disintegration of the integrity of the politician that's running. And when is it going to happen again? Or can we trust that it won't happen again?"

To be blunt, when it comes to Whitehead and LRT, no, you can't trust that it won't happen again. Whitehead himself is pretty straightforward about that. In response to Mancinelli's criticism, he argues that elasticity is a sign of good leadership.

"As changing circumstances and facts prevail, leaders need to be able to adapt to those changing circumstances. If he wants to call it a flip-flop, I respect that. But I would respectfully suggest it's about not being inflexible. I'm looking at the changing tides and changing facts and changing circumstances."

Realistically, Whitehead has never been a LRT devotee. He has constantly grilled the route, economic impact and resulting traffic upheaval.

True, last year he received accolades for helping keep the plan alive by voting for a key environmental assessment. But he readily admits that was to leverage extending the eastern terminus from the Queenston Traffic Circle to Eastgate Square.

"It doesn't mean I support LRT; I just backed a better plan."

During this election, Whitehead tested the wind and realized it had turned stiff. Knocking on doors, it was obvious many voters on the west Mountain were angry about LRT. They also told him they didn't know where he stood on the issue. And then there was Premier Doug Ford's captivating commitment to let the city spend the $1 billion earmarked for LRT on other infrastructure and transit projects.

The tides had changed and it was time to unleash the adversary again.

But, if re-elected, that doesn't mean Whitehead won't get back aboard the LRT train. If Ford's commitment proves hollow and Hamilton stands to lose the $1 billion, obviously that would be a change in circumstances requiring him to once again summon up his vaunted pragmatic plasticity.

Loading... Loading... Loading... Loading... Loading... Loading...

Other Ward 14 candidates are Vincent Samuel, Robert Iszkula, Bryan Wilson, and Roslyn French-Sanges. In a weird political twist, Samuel is now endorsing Whitehead and Iszkula is endorsing Wilson.

Andrew Dreschel's commentary appears Monday, Wednesday and Friday. adreschel@thespec.com @AndrewDreschel

905-526-3495