Hamilton Ward 8 council hopeful Dawn Danko has denounced attack advertisements, including flyers and a robocall mentioning her husband, a former council member, as a “smear campaign” aimed at confusing voters. The advertisers defend their actions.
The attack ads, distributed in print, social media, and through a robocall, highlight Dawn’s husband John-Paul Danko’s history of tax increases and support for a “rain tax,” which is a fee for stormwater services set to be introduced by the city in 2028.
Dawn clarified that the ads misrepresent her record, emphasizing that they are based on actions of her husband, who served as the Ward 8 councillor until April 2025 before being elected as MP for Hamilton West-Ancaster-Dundas.
In response to the ads, Dawn labeled them a “smear campaign” in a YouTube video released on Monday, just days ahead of the Ontario municipal elections.
The ads also prompted a robocall to residents, urging them to oppose the “Danko rain tax” by supporting a candidate committed to halting it. The call directed recipients to a website, dankosraintax.com.
Dawn expressed surprise at the initial ads, noting that they now seem concerning. She refrained from taking a stance on the stormwater fee until she reviews all pertinent information.
The individuals behind the ads, including Dennis Weyer, maintain that their actions fall within their democratic right to voice concerns on matters affecting Hamilton taxpayers. Weyer’s website combines factual information with opinion and satire, featuring AI-generated images of Dawn and John-Paul Danko.
Weyer defended the relevance of John-Paul Danko’s voting record, asserting that voters have the right to question if Dawn would follow a similar path. He encouraged residents to assess the facts independently.
Registered as third-party advertisers are Weyer and Christopher Collins, who operates concernedtaxpayersofhamilton.com, a platform referencing “Danko tax hikes” and the “Danko rain tax.”
Collins defended his ads, highlighting the significance of John-Paul Danko’s tax decisions and the public’s right to scrutinize candidates for their positions.
Residents have raised suspicions regarding potential collaboration between Weyer, Collins, and Terry Whitehead, another Ward 8 candidate. However, both Weyer and Collins denied any affiliation with Whitehead.
Whitehead clarified that he had no involvement in the third-party advertising campaigns, stating that public scrutiny of councillors’ voting records is part of the democratic process.
Dawn mentioned receiving messages of support and campaign donations in response to the ads. She emphasized the importance of voters’ perceptions of fairness in assessing the content of the advertisements.
Dawn reported the print ads to the city clerk, who confirmed their acceptability after an investigation. CBC sought clarification from the City of Hamilton on the assessment of Collins’s and Weyer’s ads but received no response before publication.
