By LACHLAN MOORHEAD
RAFAL Kaplon said he was relieved after the Councillor Conduct Panel issued a finding of misconduct against Casey councillor Sam Aziz’s reference to fellow councillor Kaplon as a “parasitic mosquito” in an email.
The panel this month found the actions of Cr Aziz “constitute misconduct” and ordered him to provide a written apology to Cr Kaplon, which he has done.
Cr Kaplon said he was happy the issue was resolved, after first learning about the email in question close to six months ago.
“I’m very glad he acknowledged his wrongdoing and regrets sending the email but I hope we can put that behind us,” he said.
“An apology was sufficient. It wasn’t done out of vengeance, I’m happy Cr Aziz acknowledged it and regrets his actions and has set a new standard of behaviour for our council.
“I’m happy with that decision.”
Cr Kaplon also confirmed he had since told Cr Aziz he was happy to be mentored by the older councillor after Cr Kaplon considered running in Monday’s mayoral election.
He is not believed to be running for the position any more, with councillors Aziz and Gary Rowe now the frontrunners.
Cr Aziz told Star News this week he and Cr Kaplon had a “professional” working relationship.
During Parliament in August, Narre Warren North MP Luke Donnellan slammed Cr Aziz’s comments made in the email sent to councillors and executives.
“Recently, Cr Rafal Kaplon, who is from the gay community, was referred to by Sam Aziz as a ‘parasitic mosquito who thrives by spreading blood-borne viruses between otherwise healthy people’,” Mr Donnellan told the parliament.
“They are totally and utterly inappropriate comments from a councillor in the State of Victoria.”
Cr Aziz immediately hit back at Mr Donnellan, saying the Minister for Roads had taken his comments out of context.
“He’s made it look like I’m criticising Cr Kaplon for his sexual orientation – people’s sexual orientation is none of my business,” Cr Aziz said.
