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SEVERAL CANDIDATES HIRED BLACKRIDGE IN THE 2018 CIVIC ELECTION. HERE’S WHAT THEY SAID ABOUT TUESDAY’S NEWS:

Mayor Ed Holder, who says he won’t deal with Blackridge for any purpose: “I might have imagined in that (Blackridge statement) there would be some contrition, some appreciation for how people were wronged in this electoral process. An apology would have been, at a minimum, appropriate . . . but that’s on them and they have to live with themselves and any other implications that come from that.”

Ward 2 Coun. Shawn Lewis, who says he won’t use Blackridge again: “I think it’s inappropriate for the premier or the province to interfere in local planning decisions. We went through a public process with a lot of public consultation. Even though I voted against the rezoning (of 446 York St.) because I still had a couple of concerns, I support the choice that council ended up at and I think the province is offside.”

Ward 6 Coun. Phil Squire, who said Tuesday he will no longer do business with Blackridge: “Because there was no denial, they appear to take ownership of the two websites that appeared. That enabled me to make the decision today that I will no longer be doing any kind of transactions of any nature with Blackridge, and I condemn those websites.”

Ward 7 Coun. Josh Morgan, who says he suspended his contract with Blackridge in October: “I have great concern with the strategy of negative campaigning and I take great comfort in the decision I made last year to separate myself. . . . If Mr. Kernaghan’s comments are correct, I would have concerns with any group overriding an elected local democratic government’s decision-making on a matter, whether I voted for it or not.”