/
News
/ Canadian Press
/
Halifax mayor won't seek re-election amid controversy surrounding friend's will
PrintHALIFAX - Peter Kelly has decided to end a 12-year run as the mayor of Halifax amid questions surrounding his handling of some key municipal issues and his role as executor of a friend's estate.
In an unexpected announcement Wednesday, Kelly acknowledged there were "stumbles" in how he handled his duties as executor to the estate of Mary Thibeault.
"I am not making any excuses," he said in a statement. "Whatever problems have arisen have been because of my own tardiness and I am in the process of fulfilling her instructions.
"Everything is accounted for and will be distributed according to her wishes."
Thibeault died Dec. 7, 2004. She appointed Kelly as the executor of her will.
Kelly's comments come after a story in the Coast, a weekly newspaper, reported on his involvement with Thibeault's estate.
In a letter to the probate court last month, one of the beneficiaries alleged Kelly did not fulfil Thibeault's wishes.
"Due to the continual and ongoing procrastination of the settling of this estate, let alone the many questionable actions made by the executor Peter Kelly, I do not feel my cousin Mary Thibeault's wishes were fulfilled regarding her estate," Elizabeth Herritt said in the letter dated Jan. 4.
An inventory of assets Kelly prepared for Thibeault says the estate was worth $505,000 as of 2005.
Thibeault listed a number of beneficiaries in her will including Kelly, who was to receive a five per cent share and a "minimum amount" as payment for his role as executor.
The Canadian National Institute for the Blind, another beneficiary, alleges it has yet to receive its 10 per cent share.
"We would like to see the matter resolved as soon as possible," said Catherine Kieran, a spokeswoman for the group.
Kelly declined to comment on the allegations.
"It's a very complicated issue that's in the lawyers' hands and I will take their direction," he said in an interview in his office.
The probate controversy is the latest in a series of troubles for the mayor of Atlantic Canada's largest city.
In March of last year, Kelly faced calls to resign over $400,000 in payments made to a now-defunct concert promoter. The money was given without the knowledge or consent of city council.
Three months later, the city's auditor general released a report into the concert funds, saying Kelly didn't flag concerns about continued financial support for two concerts that ultimately lost money. Kelly apologized.
In November, he again endured a storm of criticism over his handling of the Occupy protests. Demonstrators called for his resignation after he ordered their tents to be dismantled, days after they agreed to move to a city park to make way for Remembrance Day ceremonies. Fourteen people were arrested.
Critics also questioned Kelly's leadership in recent weeks after it was revealed that the city had not followed its own policies on the sale of municipal properties.
Kelly, 55, said his mayoral duties eventually took their toll on his personal life.
"When you do the 90-plus hours a week, things suffer. ... Your family life suffers, as mine certainly has," he said.
"This job was very consuming and certainly was one that didn't free up the opportunity to focus on some personal issues that probably should have been focused on."
He said he intends to complete his term. Municipal elections are scheduled for Oct. 20.
Mike Savage, a former Liberal MP who has declared his candidacy for the mayoral race, praised Kelly's work ethic and his commitment to the city.
But he said it was time for a change.
"If I didn't think the city could do better with new leadership I wouldn't have run," he said.
