IserveU founder says don't believe the 'lies'
New Zealand transplant says he spent thousands of dollars funding group to improve democracy in Yellowknife
Evan Kiyoshi French
Northern News Services
Monday, September 28, 2015
SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE
One of the main players behind the IserveU voting system says he wants to set the record straight about the "lies" and "rumours" he has been hearing about his group, claims that are opening a divide between people excited by the group's promise of direct democracy and those who question its motives.
Paige Saunders the code-writer behind the IserveU voting website said he wants to clear the air about rumours he's heard are circulating about him and his platform. - Evan Kiyoshi French/NNSL photo
Sept. 25, 2015. |
Paige Saunders, a 28-year-old New Zealand-born computer technician and entrepreneur who moved to Yellowknife five years ago, first came to the public's attention in June when he told Yellowknifer he sold his house to bankroll the group - a claim that has been repeatedly modified since then. Saunders said about $50,000 has been spent on IserveU to date, most of which came from him and the rest through donations. He didn't provide a breakdown of the total.
In a Sept. 16 video interview with Yellowknifer, Saunders denied using proceeds from his house sale to pay for IserveU, saying instead, "I was selling my house but it wasn't to fund this group. Most of the initial money came from selling shares in a company I started a couple years ago."
This explanation was repeated to a Yellowknifer reporter a couple of days later but now Saunders is saying at least some of the house sale proceeds did go toward IserveU.
When asked about the discrepancy, Saunders said he began backing away from the story about his house because he didn't want people to think he was "crazy."
"I don't want to kind of like have the technical details of how I have money, it's a distraction for me from what I care about," said Saunders.
"But now I see I probably should have said from the start, 'I liquidated assets, or something like that.' I'm sorry about that. From my perspective I found it kind of confusing. I get asked that question, and I start wondering why is this about me. I look back on it as kind of naive."
Saunders said he made his money in Yellowknife helping to build Cloud Works - an online property development company, that flips properties. He said he also owns more than one third of Verge Communications, publisher of Edge Yk magazine and Edge Online. He said his interest in politics arose after spending a few years in the city and seeing how much residents care about the business of city council.
After a couple of years making money, Saunders said he wasn't satisfied with the direction his life was heading. He said the community's enthusiasm for civic matters inspired him toward the formation of IserveU.
"Some people go run marathons or climb Mount Everest," he said. "This is what I want to do with my money. There have been times in my life (when things were going well financially) that I was really unhappy.
"I wanted to do this thing - it's my version of an anti-depressant ... the process of making money and paying the bills isn't always as fulfilling as doing something you legitimately think is awesome."
Saunders said IserveU's appeal for him is that he believes it will improve democracy in Yellowknife.
The plan is to sign up voters to the group's website who can then vote on issues coming before council. Candidates signed up to the IserveU platform - the goal was to have five but the group had to settle for three, Marie-Soleil Lacoursiere, Rommel Silverio and IserveU spokesperson Dane Mason - are committed to following the will of IserveU voters when voting in council as long as there are enough people voting on the website.
The platform will allow residents more say on important council decisions, said Saunders.
He said there is no way he can profit off of the IserveU platform because a licensing agreement attached to the open-source code - similar to Wikipedia or Firefox - ensures it is free.
"Some people seem to think I am an Australian businessman and this is all some plan to make money," he said.
"I can't even think of a way I could make money on it."
Saunders said IserveU's crew - now numbering three staff and about 45 volunteers - has been going around the city the last few months teaching people about their system.
"Every Yellowknifer deserves an hour, (for explanation)," he said.
IserveU councillors are only obligated to follow the will of IserveU voters when a majority of them vote in a particular direction.
If fewer weigh in, the system reverts to representative democracy - as it is now - with councillors making the decision on their own.
Silverio said the group has given talks about their platform in schools and at the Avens Community for Seniors.
The IserveU candidate said he was surprised to hear people talking negatively about Saunders.
"He's a very good man," he said.
