Coun. Peter Cuddy waited until the last minute to be interviewed about a troubling week of revelations by CTV News.
The Ward 3 councillor’s demeanor during the interview at 5 p.m. on Friday ranged from apologetic to defiant when asked about cell phone videos showing him during an aggressive tirade last November, and about his removal from the London Public Library (LPL) Board for missing too many meetings.
“It’s hard to explain my behavior,” Cuddy replied when asked about four videos of him aggressively confronting a political consultant in November. “I was wrong. It was inappropriate, and I’m sorry that I behaved that way.”
The lawsuit by OCV Strategy seeks payment of four invoices for consulting work, plus interest, that total just over $4,210.77 according to court documents.
Managing Director of OCV Strategy Zak Rahim recorded the videos as he served Cuddy with the lawsuit in front of the councillor’s home.
Cuddy snatched the papers from Rahim and pushed them into the cellphone.
Another video shows Cuddy put his arm around Rahim mimicking a friendly embrace while Rahim backs away shouting, “Get off of me! Get off of me! GET OFF OF ME!”
Cuddy then pushes his face within centimetres of Rahim and dares the political consultant to hit him.
Rahim refuses while backpedaling down the street.
Cuddy’s told CTV News on Friday, “I don’t think I have an anger management issue, but I think when you’re approached, if you’re approached at your home, would you not be angry? Please tell me, because I think you would be. I think anyone on council would be angry if they were approached at their home. Mr. Rahim could have come here (city hall) to serve those papers.”
He has, however, contacted city staff about enrolling in some professional development courses that he hopes to begin as early as next week.
Regarding the lawsuit, Cuddy said he has resolved the financial dispute with OVC Strategy, but wouldn’t reveal how much he paid.
Rahim has refused to speak with CTV News about the situation, but earlier this week did send a text, “You do not have my consent to publish my footage. Thanks.”
Cuddy said he is unsure if any Code of Conduct complaints have been filed with the Integrity Commissioner about his behaviour in the videos.
The role of the Integrity Commissioner is to investigate complaints from members of the public about the conduct of council members.
If a violation occurred, the IC’s report will include a recommended punishment for council to consider.
Consequences for violating the Council Code of Conduct range from a formal reprimand to a suspension of pay for up to three months.
“If there is an inquiry by the Integrity Commission against me, I will follow whatever decisions that they make,” the Ward 3 councillor said.
Meanwhile, Cuddy also faced scrutiny this week after being removed from the library board.
He admitted to missing three consecutive meetings (between October and January), which is the criteria for automatic disqualification from his appointment according to the Public Libraries Act.
Cuddy believes LPL Board Chair Brian Gibson should have warned him before the third meeting,
“The chair has often sent a note, as a courtesy to say, ‘You’re [not at] two meetings. You only have one left,’” Cuddy explained. “If I’d received that notice, I would have really tried to make an effort to attend that last meeting.”
Cuddy added that meetings of the library board often occur on the same evening as another one of his appointments, the Middlesex London Board of Health.
He claims Gibson could have been more helpful by sending a reminder, “But I didn’t receive that as a courtesy. That is the prerogative of the [library] board chair, and he chose not to exercise that.”
