City official target of slanderous posters

City hall is standing by its manager of indoor facilities after posters defaming Art Manhire’s character were placed on posts throughout the downtown area.

City hall is standing by its manager of indoor facilities after posters defaming Art Manhire’s character were placed on posts throughout the downtown area.

City manager Stan Westby made that pledge in an interview this morning.

The anonymous page features a photo of Manhire showing off turf at the Canada Games Centre soccer facility. It goes on to argue that Manhire should be removed from his role with the city.

The Star is not publishing the precise contents of the anonymous posters due to their slanderous nature.

In addition to forwarding a copy of the poster to the RCMP and contacting   legal counsel on the matter, city staff have taken down the approximately half-dozen copies they have learned of downtown and will continue removing any others that turn up, Westby said.

He encouraged anyone with information about the posters to inform the RCMP.

Statements in the posters are not true, Westby said, noting his shock at the page.

New to the city, having started his job here less than a couple of weeks ago, Westby said he’s seen similar campaigns in other areas, but never to this extent.

“I was really surprised,” he said.

He had walked in to work downtown this morning but hadn’t noticed the posters until after a call came in to city hall about them at around 10:45.

Manhire is out of town and couldn’t be reached for comment.

Westby said he also couldn’t reach Manhire, but left a message offering his and the city’s “unequivocal support”.

Whitehorse RCMP could not be reached for comment on the case.