Trudy Turner, director of the West End BIZ, said she was "devastated" to find a flyer stuffed in business mailboxes along Ellice, Sargent and Portage avenues last month detailing a civil suit that was launched against her and settled 16 years ago.

"I knew nothing about this whatsoever," said [Harvey Smith]. "I'm working to help people in the ward with their problems. I don't have time for these kinds of things."

"It's unfortunate this campaign has become gutter politics," she said. "I'm saddened to hear it's started so early."