Beatty Says She Will Face the Hard Questions as Cobourg Mayoral Campaign Heats Up

Pete Fisher
2 hours ago
• Categories: Local

Cobourg mayoral candidate Nicole Beatty is pushing back against questions surrounding deleted social-media posts, saying she is prepared to face tough questions about her political record — but will draw the line when attacks involve her family or what she describes as false claims.

Beatty, who is running for Mayor of Cobourg, issued a statement Wednesday addressing concerns about posts being removed from her social-media platforms.

She confirmed that posts have been deleted, but said there are specific circumstances in which that happens.

“Posts are deleted automatically that reference my children in an attacking or unhealthy manner,” Beatty said.

“I chose to seek public office. My children did not.”

Beatty also said posts that she believes are “clearly slanderous or falsely maligning” will be removed.

“My social media platforms are just that; my social media platforms,” she said. “They are not there to advance agendas that are detrimental to me or my family.”

But Beatty insists that does not mean she is unwilling to face criticism.

In fact, she says the opposite.

The mayoral candidate said she welcomes “healthy and robust debate” about her record on Cobourg Council and recognizes that voters have every right to question decisions she has made during her time in municipal politics.

“I fully recognize that I have a public record on both votes/pronouncements that I have to be fully prepared to explain and even defend when required,” she said.

Beatty said she has been the subject of what she calls “false narratives” and political agendas designed to damage her reputation.

“I have been the target of more than one false narrative and the target of agendas that have nothing to do with me, except for attempting to slander both my name and reputation,” she said.

She indicated voters can expect her to respond to some of those claims as the campaign progresses.

“I will be addressing these falsehoods over the coming weeks throughout the course of the election, when appropriate to do so,” Beatty said.

However, she said she does not intend to spend the campaign chasing every allegation made against her.

“My goal will not be to counter every falsehood, as that is merely a distraction from what actually matters,” she said.

Beatty also rejected the idea that entering municipal politics means surrendering the right to fairness or protection from personal attacks.

“Deciding to seek public office does not mean you give up your rights to fairness; it does not mean you give up your rights to truth over smears,” she said.

The statement comes as Cobourg’s municipal election campaign begins to take shape, with candidates facing increased scrutiny over their records, positions and decisions.

Beatty said she remains proud of her time on Council and the choices she has made while representing Cobourg residents.

“I am proud of my time on Council. I am proud of the choices I have made on behalf of you as its citizens,” she said.

She also said she is proud of the platform she is presenting to voters as she seeks the mayor’s office.

“I am also very proud of the platform I am running on to be your Mayor,” Beatty said. “I believe it is that very history that most qualifies me to be your Mayor.”

And she says she intends to meet voters face-to-face throughout the campaign.

“I look forward to engaging with as many individuals as possible first hand over the coming weeks,” she said.

Beatty’s closing message was unmistakably direct:

“I am not afraid of the hard questions. It is the falsehoods that have no place in the public discourse.”

For Beatty, the message is clear: her political record is open for scrutiny, but she says personal attacks, attacks involving her children and what she considers deliberately false claims will not be allowed to define her campaign.