Former MLA Trevor Zinck keeping constituency office open
"I think he's a guy who is in some distress," says Premier Darrell Dexter
Trevor Zinck, the embattled former MLA for Dartmouth North, is keeping his constituency office open for the time being and said he wants to continue to help those who ask for his help.
"I'm still going to remain an advocate in some ways with as much push as I can," he told CBC News on Thursday.
Zinck pleaded guilty to charges of fraud and breach of trust on Monday and resigned his seat as an Independent MLA less than two days later, amid mounting public and political pressure.
He told reporters he decided to resign in order to keep his $51,000 transitional allowance — or severance — which he could lose if he continued to fight.
"First thing I'm going to do is pay back any monies that are obviously owed to either — I have to get clarification back from the province — to the individuals and the organizations," Zinck said on Thursday.
"That will be the very first step as soon as the funds are transferred over to my possession."
Zinck also promised to run for re-election — something a criminal conviction doesn't disqualify him from doing.
For now, the Dartmouth North seat is vacant and the provincial government has up to six months to call a vote and another six months to hold it.
Premier Darrell Dexter said given a general election has to be held within the year, it doesn't make sense to call a byelection.
"Mr. Zinck resigned yesterday and he did the right thing and I hope he gets the help he needs," Dexter told reporters on Thursday.
"Personally I think he's a guy who is in some distress."
Zinck is one of four politicians charged in February 2011 following an investigation by the province's auditor general into constituency allowance spending. He was kicked out of the NDP caucus after allegations of financial irregularities in his expenses.