Boldt not going down without a fight

Boldt says her friends now call her the Martha Stewart of North Bay as she spends her time under house arrest cooking and baking.

Maureen Boldt refuses to give up her seat on council without a fight and the fate of her request for an extended leave will be up for consideration at tonight’s City Council meeting.

In light of new evidence that Boldt believes will clear her name, she hopes her fellow councillors will see fit to grant her the extension, however, Boldt isn’t deluded and says she is very aware of her colleagues feelings on the matter.

“I know council isn’t going to go in my favour,” she states.

“I’ve heard from a couple of them directly ... and I’ve heard enough about it through the media that I know that I don’t have council’s support.”

“If I’m not at my council seat (I believe) January 14th my seat’s declared vacant and they can replace me.”

Boldt says there are a number of options council has to fill the vacant seat if she is not released from house arrest prior to that date.

“I understand that Tanya Vrebosch has already been notified that she’s going to get the appointment.”

“Council could go to a by-election or they could appoint somebody but tradition is they go to the next in line ... the one who came in 11th.”

Boldt says there is nothing in Municipal Act preventing council from granting her the leave as the act says that a seat is declared vacant after 3 months unless it’s approved by council.

“What I’ve been told by a few of the councillors was the advice they got was the only time that it’s been approved by a council was for bereavement or medical leave,” she says.

“Well those are not written in the act those are examples of when it’s been used it’s up to this council they have every right and ability to approve leave, they don’t have the political will to do it though.”

“I hope to get back to my seat on the 14th of January otherwise I lose it, that’s what I’m intending on doing right now."

Boldt says her house arrest doesn’t end until midnight on the 15th of February but says she intends to do everything in her power to clear her name before that date arrives.

“I think everybody’s aware of the fact that I’ve stated all along that there’s been a miscarriage of justice, and I’ve been wrongly convicted.”