Environmentalist Glenn De Baeremaeker, running for city council in Scarborough, has an impressive résumé as the well-known leader of Save the Rouge Valley System, a decades-old conservation group.
But as the campaign in Ward 38 draws to a close, he continues to face questions about Save the Rouge's finances and tactics, despite his years fighting to save the Rouge and the Oak Ridges Moraine.
Save the Rouge itself is in disarray, facing a city review of money raised from a charity bingo worth $50,000 a year and allegations from former group members that Mr. De Baeremaeker is in a conflict of interest. All four of the group's staff have quit, and it has been told to leave its rent-free offices by year's end.
Mr. De Baeremaeker says he is the victim of a smear campaign from disgruntled environmentalists angry at his policy of negotiating with developers on conservation issues instead of just confronting them.
"As with many environmental groups, there are different factions," said Mr. De Baeremaeker, adding that many of his critics are working for Ward 38 political rival Virginia Jones.
Former Save the Rouge board member Linda Carscadden and former staffer Peter Boyes told The Globe and Mail they were concerned about payments made by the non-profit group to Mr. De Baeremaeker's partner of 10 years, Ramona Wall, a public-relations specialist.
Mr. De Baeremaeker said Save the Rouge hired Ms. Wall's firm, Right Brain Media, for two years, but said he did not vote when the board approved the contract.
Save the Rouge treasurer Ian Glynwilliams said Right Brain Media was paid about $71,000 for work on the Oak Ridges Moraine campaign in 2002, including $20,000 for printed materials distributed in The Toronto Star. In 2001, Ms. Wall was paid $15,000 for her services and expenses.
Mr. De Baeremaeker added that Ms. Wall has also volunteered countless hours for Save the Rouge. He and Mr. Glynwilliams said there was nothing improper about hiring her.
Under Ontario law, not-for-profit corporations -- as opposed to charities -- are allowed to enter into such contracts, as long as the board member involved does not vote or discuss the matter.
The city has asked Mr. De Baeremaeker to provide bank statements, cancelled cheques and other documents to account for how Save the Rouge spent the money it raised from its licensed bingo.
Teresa Tedesco, the city's director of legislative services, said the city wants to ensure that the money is not being used for political activism, which is against the bingo rules, or for "personal gain."
The review comes after complaints to the city from members of Save the Rouge, she said.
Mr. De Baeremaeker said he welcomes the review, and that although he believed Save the Rouge had already provided the necessary documents, it would provide the city with whatever is requested.
Mr. De Baeremaeker said the "mudslinging" is the result of a deal Save the Rouge made with the housing developers of an area called Morningside Heights, near the Rouge River. Save the Rouge agreed to stop its fight against the development in return for what he said were important environmental concessions.
Among them is a $1-million trust fund for restoration work controlled jointly by the developers and by representatives of Save the Rouge.
Murray Johnston, head of the Rouge Valley Foundation, said he didn't think the deal was worth it, and that the concessions gained to conserve the Rouge were too small. His foundation runs the farmhouse where Save the Rouge and other groups have their offices, and his board has asked Mr. De Baeremaeker's group to leave.
Ward 38 is wide open because former councillor Brad Duguid is now a Liberal in the Ontario Legislature. Mr. De Baeremaeker and rival Ms. Jones -- Mr. Duguid's former constituency assistant -- include quotes from Mr. Duguid and pictures of the popular former councillor in their literature.
Ms. Jones, who has also worked as a communications officer for the Town of Markham, says her experience working for Mr. Duguid since 2001 has made her very familiar with the ward. "As far as I am concerned, I am the only one that has the knowledge, the background, the skills to run."
Tom Palantzas, who has a master's degree in sociology, has long volunteered in the Greek community. A former restaurateur, he has worked as a corrections officer and sat on the Ontario Board of Parole. He says crime prevention and traffic problems are his priorities. He says he has been endorsed by local Liberal MP John Cannis.
Betty Hackett, a real-estate agent and former school trustee who ran for council in 1997, said speeding traffic in the ward needs to be curbed, and costs need to be cut at city hall by 20 per cent.
Willie Reodica, also a real-estate agent, says he'd fight to create a chief of road safety, who could put in traffic lights or make other changes without asking the council.
Michael Binetti, a 21-year-old hospitality and tourism student at George Brown College, is also running.
Jeff Gray