Frank Butt | |
|---|---|
| Born | Frank Butt |
| Nationality | Canadian |
| Occupation(s) | Businessman, Politician |
| Website | frankbutt |
Frank Butt is a Canadian businessman and politician from Carbonear, Newfoundland, where he currently sits as Mayor of Carbonear for his second term. Butt ran for the Carbonear-Trinity-Bay de Verde district as a member of the Progressive Conservative Party during the 2021 Newfoundland and Labrador general election, losing to incumbent, Steve Crocker.
Biography
editEarly life and career
editButt grew up in Carbonear, he was born into a large family of 12 siblings. Butt's father, James P. Butt, owned and operated an Esso gas station in the commercial centre of Carbonear, just off of Water Street. The Butt's were Roman Catholic so Frank attended school at St. Joseph's Elementary, adjacent to St. Patrick's Church in Carbonear, and St. Francis High School in Harbour Grace. Butt graduated from the College of the North Atlantic in 1988 with a diploma in Clerk Accounting. After Butt's father retired from work, he handed over the family business to Frank, which he continues to own and operate. Butt is also a volunteer firefighter with the Carbonear Volunteer Fire Department.
Political career
editButt first entered into politics in September 2013 when he was elected as councillor in Carbonear. He was subsequently elected as deputy Mayor in 2014. In 2017 Butt ran for mayor against incumbent George Butt and former mayor Sam Slade and won with a large majority.[1]
Conflict of interest scandal
editJust a few weeks before Butt was elected mayor, in September 2017, the Carbonear town council received an anonymous letter which was undated, unaddressed, and unsigned, which voiced the concern that Mayor Butt had taken part in a vote in 2014 to have a building formerly owned by the Rorke's, demolished. The building, the former "Easy Save", was formerly owned by the Rorke's which owned several buildings that sat on Water Street. Easy Save, later known as Surprise Bag had been shut down for years and the building had become an eyesore. A motion was put forward by Butt, to have the building checked for asbestos, pests and to be demolished. Butt, deputy mayor at the time, took part in the vote.[2]
Easy Save was situated on a lot adjacent to Butt's Esso Station, it's demolishment would potentially mean an increase of property value for deputy mayor Butt. This, as something Butt stood to gain, should have put him in a conflict of interest.[3]
The motion to have the building demolished failed at the time but was torn down in 2015 after a change in ownership. The lot is now a parking lot and Beer garden for the Stone Jug Restaurant & Pub.
After reviewing the letter, in December 2017, the town council ruled Butt was in conflict of interest and voted unanimously to have him removed from his position as mayor. Butt took the case to the Supreme Court of Newfoundland and Labrador, to get his job back.[4] Butt accused the town council for conducting itself undemocratically and withholding documents that he felt were necessary to his defence.[5]
During the appeal, real-estate appraiser, Neil Hardy, visited the property and concluded that Butt would not have any monetary gain as a result from the building's demolition.[6] After the two day hearing ended, Justice Robert Stack, found that Frank Butt was not in a conflict of interest. Shortly thereafter, Butt returned to his position as Mayor of Carbonear.[7][8]
Provincial politics
editIn 2021, Newfoundland premier, Andrew Furey, called a snap election. Frank Butt was selected as candidate of the Progressive Conservative Party of Newfoundland and Labrador to run for the Carbonear-Trinity-Bay de Verde district. He lost to incumbent Steve Crocker.[9]
Electoral Record
edit| 2021 Newfoundland and Labrador general election: Carbonear-Trinity-Bay de Verde | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | ||||
| Liberal | Steve Crocker | 3,892 | 67.53 | +7.25 | ||||
| Progressive Conservative | Frank Butt | 1,596 | 27.69 | -6.32 | ||||
| New Democratic | Matt Smith | 261 | 4.53 | -0.43 | ||||
| Independent | Edward Thomas Cole | 14 | 0.24 | -0.50 | ||||
| Total valid votes | 5,763 | |||||||
| Total rejected ballots | ||||||||
| Turnout | ||||||||
| Eligible voters | ||||||||
| Liberal hold | Swing | +6.79 | ||||||
Source(s)
"Officially Nominated Candidates General Election 2021" (PDF). Elections Newfoundland and Labrador. Retrieved 3 March 2021. "NL Election 2021 (Unofficial Results)". Retrieved 27 March 2021. | ||||||||
| Municipal Election 2021 (Mayoral Candidate) | Votes | % |
|---|---|---|
| Frank Butt | 1,336 | 63.25 |
| David Kennedy | 776 | 36.75 |
| Municipal Election 2017 (Mayoral Candidate) | Votes | % |
|---|---|---|
| Frank Butt | ||
| Sam Slade | ||
| George Butt |
References
edit- ^ https://www.saltwire.com/newfoundland-labrador/news/local/frank-butt-elected-as-mayor-of-carbonear-25772/
- ^ https://www.saltwire.com/newfoundland-labrador/news/local/carbonear-mayor-frank-butts-seat-declared-vacant-169723/
- ^ https://www.saltwire.com/newfoundland-labrador/news/town-of-carbonear-releases-more-details-about-former-mayors-removal-169978/
- ^ https://www.saltwire.com/newfoundland-labrador/news/frank-butt-to-appeal-ouster-from-carbonear-council-169911/
- ^ https://www.saltwire.com/newfoundland-labrador/news/local/frank-butt-accuses-carbonear-council-of-bias-undemocratic-conduct-in-court-application-174175/
- ^ https://www.saltwire.com/newfoundland-labrador/news/local/property-appraiser-appears-at-frank-butts-hearing-to-reclaim-carbonear-council-seat-191982/
- ^ https://www.saltwire.com/newfoundland-labrador/news/frank-butt-returning-to-mayors-seat-in-carbonear-225761/
- ^ https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/newfoundland-labrador/frank-butt-not-conflict-interest-back-as-mayor-carbonear-1.4744701
- ^ https://www.pcnl.ca/node/928