In January, the mayor's community relations manager Anna Lucarino stated Sam Sullivan's office had received so "many inquiries as to how to purchase membership, contribute financially or become a volunteer to help support" the Non-Partisan Association leader, that it was necessary for her to send a mass email directing voters to his recently-launched website. But, according to a freedom of information request filed by Canadian Union of Public Employees Local 15, the mayor's office received no such inquiries via e-mail or snail mail between Jan. 1, 2008, and Jan. 31, 2008.

"On the surface it seems to be a misuse of that system," said union president Paul Faoro, referring to the fact the message was sent using a taxpayer-funded email address. "That's extremely troubling. And I think Mayor Sullivan needs to be accountable" now that it appears there were no written inquiries about how to get involved with the mayor's re-election campaign.

Asked for comment, the mayor's communication director David Hurford said, "Inquiries come in many forms. They come in a variety of different ways. They come largely from phone calls" - which wouldn't have been captured by the union's request.