A candidate for Kitchener’s city council says he’s shocked and hurt by an email asking him to drop his campaign and support a rival candidate.

Wasai Rahimi received the email Tuesday, from an address belonging to Kitchener mayoral candidate Dan Glenn-Graham.

“I would encourage you to consider supporting Dan Graham as he is close to winning and unless you have covered all the doors in your Ward, a victory this time is unlikely for you,” the email read in part.

Dan Graham – not to be confused with mayoral candidate Glenn-Graham – is one of six candidates, counting Rahimi, vying for the Ward 2 nod.

Rahimi forwarded the email to local media Thursday night. He also posted it to his campaign Facebook page.

“I spent lots of money and lots of energy to run a good campaign,” he told CTV News.

“Why should I just withdraw and quit? It doesn’t make any sense.”

Glenn-Graham told CTV News that word of the email came as a shock to him as well – that he did not authorize it and only learned of it Friday morning.

“Wasai was right to say this was inappropriate. I agree with him 100 per cent,” he said.

Glenn-Graham blamed the email on a member of his staff – although he said he had yet to find out exactly who was behind it – and said it was sent from a campaign iPhone while he himself was out campaigning.

Asked if there would be any consequences for the staff member in question, he replied “I don’t know. It’s a good question.”

Glenn-Graham has apologized to Rahimi for the email, although Rahimi’s response to that apology may not have been what he hoped for.

“I appreciate what he did, but it is not a valid apology,” Rahimi told CTV News.

One outside observer says the entire incident is unusual for a municipal campaign in Waterloo Region.

Kitchener Mayor Carl Zehr, who is not seeking another term, said he was “totally surprised” to hear of it.

“I think it’s a sign of a turn of events that isn’t healthy for our community. That’s not the Waterloo Region way,” he said.

“I would almost say it’s despicable.”

This incident isn’t the first accusation of underhanded tactics to dog current municipal election campaigns.

Police in both Waterloo Region and Guelph are investigating various complaints about stolen and vandalized campaign signs.