Controversial Halton Catholic School Board Trustee Vincent Iantomasi has filed nomination papers for the October 24 municipal election
Iantomasi was first elected in 2018, replacing his wife Arlene, who had the job first. Nominations close on Friday, but already Iantomasi is facing opposition, for the Wards 1 and 2 seat, from 18-year-old Kirsten Kelly.
The Aldershot-based Iantomasi is a controversial figure. He has a history of confrontation with the board chair, resulting in endless calls of order and privilege, along with threats of removal from meetings. Board meetings became almost unmanageable.
Among the challenging issues that set Iantomasi aside from the majority of his trustee colleagues was the question of flying the Pride flag at Catholic schools. He voted “no.” During that raucous debate, the board chair was frequently heard to say, “Trustee Iantomasi, you will not raise your voice,” and “Stop interrupting, Trustee Iantomasi.”
Others have described Iantomasi’s questioning as “thorough” and “penetrating.”
On July 26, while Iantomasi was away due to illness, the Catholic board voted on an Integrity Commissioner’s report, which investigated 25 instances of Iantomasi’s alleged misconduct. That report has not been made public. In a five to three vote, Iantomasi was sanctioned and suspended from attending board meetings for the rest of the term.
A lobby group known as the Halton Parents for Change is supporting Kelly and condemns Iantomasi’s behaviour.
“Burlington Trustee Vincent Iantomasi has spent much of his term acting as an obstruction to the board. …Trustee Iantomasi has proven to be argumentative and disrespectful during meetings, resulting in his ejection from four separate meetings in 2021.”
