Hiring a municipal lawyer to tackle Welland corruption

My name is Steven Soos, I have been a resident of Welland for 31 years.

Recently, I filed three integrity commissioner complaints on Welland City Councillors for different violations of the Welland code of conduct.

The biggest potential rule breaker is Welland Mayor, Frank Campion who also was investigated by the Ontario Ombudsman for Breach of Trust and secret appointments of Welland City Councillors in backroom proceedings of Welland Council. All the evidence was destroyed. I need City of Welland residents help to hold Mayor Frank Campion accountable and reprimand him for full scale corruption in the City of Welland. Mayor Campion is also known to be in the pocket of elite/rich developers and even had to return a developer's donation in the 2022 civic election as developers are not legally permitted to donate to municipal campaigns. Welland residents do not want Mayor Frank Campion to run again as he does not represent the interest of taxpayers and vulnerable residents in Welland as is indicated in his egregious voting record. Any amount helps to hold the Campion Cabal CAO, Rob Axiak, Community services director, Jessica Ruddell, Deputy Clerk, Sarah Conidi, Councillors David McLeod, Adam Moote, Leo Van Vliet, Sharmila Setaram and Maryann Grimaldi accountable.

The lawyer will assist me with my civil suit with Welland CAO, Rob Axiak and the agency launching political attacks at me on behalf of Sharmila Setaram, Bridges Niagara (St. Catharines) and holding these characters accountable.

This campaign will be fueled by people power and a large portion of the proceeds from the civil suit will go to assist the mentally ill, homelessness and addicted in Welland.

Here are the facts of Welland's three IC complaints:

1. Sharmila Setaram entered into a quid pro quo with Bridges Niagara blanket corporation, an out of town corporation who received approx. $20,000.00 from the City of Welland when there are many deserving organizations who do mental health, homelessness and addictions services in Welland. Sharmila, her surrogates who she is promising political power to by supporting them for Welland City Council, Mayor Campion and CAO, Rob Axiak are all trying to discredit my claims as baseless, groundless or false. This is the gaslighting that the City does and it's next level political targeting. As someone who took on the City and won in 2017 on secret appointments of Councillors and breach of trust, the City knows I will not back down and they are in full damage control mode to cover up the big lie. Sharmila potentially violated 6.1 of the Welland Code of Conduct and the provincial conflict of interest act. TBD. I am currently entering into litigation with Bridges Niagara and CAO Axiak for defamation of character and libel. I have also involved Bridges Niagara's funders, the Immigration ministry of Canada because they are using staff time and resources to attack me and this is certainly what they are NOT funded to do!

2. Frank Campion potentially violated sections 9.1, 9.2, 14.1 and 14.2 on the Welland Code of Conduct for screaming at Councillor John Chiocchio and Councillor Tony DiMarco. 9.1 and 9.2 cover respect in the workplace and respect for one another. Mayor Campion's conduct is potentially abusive and it's well documented that Councillor DiMarco poses no threat to public safety, should be allowed to take his seat for Ward 4 at City Hall to truly represent the people who voted for him. Councillor DiMarco is plagued with technical difficulties and Welland Clerk and the Mayor have a track record of tampering with recording devices as per the 2017 Ombudsman report. 14.1 and 14.2 cover discrimination and conduct in the workplace. Welland City Hall has become a toxic workplace and residents are consistently disrespected by some Councillors and Staff.

3. Maryann Grimaldi and Leo Van Vliet potentially violated 9.2 of the Code which covers respect for residents by falling asleep during critical debate at Council meetings. Grimaldi even fell asleep while City of Welland was debating Veteran's crosswalk's which is so disrespectful to the men and women who served our country in uniform!

I have no doubt that all these political attacks will be worthwhile when the Welland IC, Rebecca Hines vindicates me for truthful, factual and accurate complaints.

To be continued!

What is going on in the City of Welland with CERTAIN abusive Councillors and staff? We don't know because they are ducking the tough questions and won't even answer questions from residents or certain Councillors who try to keep them accountable. Sad times indeed.

I look forward to the residents of Welland banning together to give Welland Council and Welland City Hall the Fresh Start it deserves!