The Ward 5 resident who first tipped off city investigators about questionable spending within former Councilman Harry Thomas Jr.’s nonprofits is running for Thomas’ vacated seat. Republican Tim Day, an accountant who ran against Thomas in 2010, filed with the Board of Elections and Ethics on Friday afternoon.
“What we most need now is to make certain we get a return on every dollar spent,” Day said in a statement. “It’s basics like compliance and accountability that are missing now, and that is exactly the expertise I can provide.”
Day added he us running “to have the Council function as an honest and ethical government entity for all the people of Ward 5 and not just a select few.”
Day first made the announcement on News Channel 8’s ‘NewsTalk’ with Bruce DePuyt on Friday morning.
The special election for Thomas’ seat will be held May 15. Thomas resigned at the beginning of this month as part of a plea agreement in federal court. He pleaded guilty to stealing more than $350,000 from the city and spending the money on himself and to filing false tax returns. Thomas’ sentencing is scheduled for May 3.
