Random Access

"Leadership Through Action" is the motto splashed across the top of the web site of Conservative Party of Canada candidate Major Ted Opitz.
Some of the other candidates for the Mississauga South nomination taking place June 10 at St. John's Hall on Stavebank Rd. think he's taking the motto a little too seriously these days.
That's because Optiz pre-empted some of his opponents — yes with military precision — by buying up web domain sites that prospective voters at the nomination might be visiting to learn about the candidates.
Financial consultant Hugh Arrison's real web site is http://www.voteforhugh.ca/ but if you tried http://www.hugharrison.ca earlier this week, you'll be redirected to the site of the Opitz, of the Royal Regiment of Canada. That's because the owner of the domain is Theodore John Peter Opitz.
Same thing with the third candidate still in the race, Orchard Heights ratepayer president Raya Shadursky. Her real web site is http://www.rayascampaign.com/ but if you searched http://www.rayashadursky.ca, you'd get Major Ted again.
"There's nothing illegal about it," Opitz said this morning, pointing out that this has happened before in other nomination contests. "It's not evil or nefarious," he said. "It's a strategic tactic that is effective and quite legal. It's an electoral tactic."
Web sites are a critical front in nomination battles, so the more people you can point in your direction, the better off you are, argued the candidate.
A wise candidate would secure all of the domain names that could be potentially used as web sites for their candidacies as he did, said Optiz.
"It may be legal but it's unethical," retorted David Brown, Arrison's campaign manager. "Is this the way you should try to get votes? He wants to sneak them through Hugh rather than going out and getting them on his own," said Brown, the former Canadian tennis champion who still appears to enjoy a well-placed (political) overhead smash.
"I think this will be perceived by the members as a little underhanded and unethical," he said. "It wouldn't even be considered by Mr. Arrison. It's not the way to represent the party and it's not the way to conduct yourself with the other candidates. I think people will use this to judge the character, or lack of character within this individual. This is not the way we feel Conservative candidates should be operating."
Then Brown proceeds to play the Tim Peterson card, suggesting that Mississauga South Tories do not accept interlopers well. Opitz, of course, doesn't live in the riding which means he has to work twice as hard to prove himself to the 400 or so core members of the association, who will likely end up holding the balance of power in the contest.
Opitz, on the other hand, said he doesn't think anyone will be voting based on postal code.
The race is now down to three after Clarkson lawyer Tom Simpson, the first into the race, bowed out because — ironically enough — he is moving out of the riding.
Ward 2 Trustee Don Stephens withdrew a couple of weeks ago for personal reasons.
In a late development this afternoon, however, after Arrison and Shadurksy chatted with Opitz, things suddenly took a completely different turn.
"We're all adults," explained Opitz. "We had a discussion, they registered their concerns" and there will be no more redirections to his web site. "We ultimately all have to get together on the 11th of June and work together," Opitz said.
"I don't apologize for my aggressive tactics. I'm an aggressive guy. We had a chat and we're all friends.
Is the concession an admission of poor judgment on his part?
"Not at all," says Opitz. "It's just an accommodation. I'm a team player. I'm an army guy. To achieve a goal, you have to work together."
Brown called back to say things have been cleared up and there is no more issue.
Just one big happy Tory family, for a few more days at least.