Randy Voakes is done fighting.
The Essex councillor was expected to create some fireworks at the town's Committee of Adjustment meeting on Tuesday after council decided to boot him from the paid position.
As AM800 News reported earlier this month, Voakes called the decision "ill fated" and promised to make it clear to the committee he would be taking back his spot. But, Voakes has had a change of heart and is taking council's decision in stride.
"I guess I could stand and fight — I choose not to," says Voakes. "What I really choose to do is getting back to what's important to the community and that's having a good solid council, being productive and I guess stopping all the conflicts that are happening."
Councillor and committee member Larry Snively says the decision to boot Voakes was nothing personal — it just came down to attendance.
"I'm not going to sit here and talk bad about Randy — he might of had a reason why he didn't call in, I don't know the reason," says Snively. "But, under the Municipal Act, if you don't call in and you miss three meetings in a row, council has the authority to remove you and that's what we did."
Councillors Sherry Bondy (left) and Larry Snively (right) attend the Committee of Adjustment meeting on July 18, 2017. (Photo by Ricardo Veneza)
Voakes doesn't feel anything good would come from fighting council's decision and hopes the remainder of the term can be productive.
"I'm a man of my word, I mean I'm on record saying that I'd like to believe this council can build to be a better council, to be a more community involved council instead of a divided council," says Voakes.
Council voted unanimously at its July 4th meeting to replace Voakes on the Committee of Adjustment with fellow councillor Sherry Bondy.
She feels Voakes made a wise choice in moving on after council's decision.
"The majority of council has spoken — you can either take this decision peacefully and accept that council has spoken or you can continue to fight and resist the decisions of the majority of council," says Bondy.
While Voakes still questions council's decision to kick him off the committee, he is ready to move on and is done fighting.
"I have no interest in doing that," says Voakes. "I have interest in building my community. I have interest in representing my constituents, but I have no interest in fighting and quarreling."
Town of Essex councillor Randy Voakes attends a special meeting of council focusing on proposed spending in the 2017 budget on January 30, 2017. (Photo by Ricardo Veneza)