Embattled city councillor Rick Chiarelli not seeking re-election
Embattled long-time Ottawa city councillor Rick Chiarelli will not be seeking re-election this fall.
Chiarelli did not register to run for a new term in College Ward ahead of the 2 p.m. deadline Friday for candidates to register for the October municipal election.
The former Nepean councillor has been a city of Ottawa councillor since amalgamation, serving Baseline Ward and College Ward. Chiarelli was first elected to office in the 1980s, the youngest person ever elected to council in Nepean.
During this term of office, Chiarelli was found to have violated the city's Code of Conduct for elected officials following two investigations by the integrity commissioner into alleged inappropriate conduct towards staff members and women applying for jobs in his office.
In December 2019, Chiarelli underwent open-heart surgery at the University of Ottawa Heart Institute. He was readmitted to hospital due to a serious bacterial infection in his chest in January 2020.
Mayor Jim Watson reacted to news of Chiarelli not seeking re-election Friday afternoon, saying "good riddance."
"He brought shame to City Hall and to the city of Ottawa, became a national story, his vulgar and disgraceful behaviour towards women, the Integrity Commissioner's report speaks for itself," Watson told Newstalk 580 CFRA's Ottawa Now with Kristy Cameron.
"It's laughable that he thinks he could win the election. Who in their right mind would support someone who's behaved so poorly over the course of the last several years."
Chiarelli will be eligible for a "transition allowance" of one month's pay for each consecutive year of service, up to a maximum of six months. The severance package is offered to all elected officials who decide not to seek re-election or are defeated on Election Day.
Chiarelli will receive $55,555 transition pay for his service.
Mayor candidate Mark Sutcliffe called on Chiarelli to either turn down the severance package or donate it to a charity.
"@Rick_Chiarelli - given you violated the city's code of conduct, you should turn down the $55,000 severance package you're eligible to receive. Better yet, donate it to a charity that supports vulnerable women," Sutcliffe said.
There are five candidates on the ballot in College Ward: Laine Johnson, Granda Kopytko, Wendy Davidson, Pat McGarry and Delvas Vilteau.
Johnson released a statement after the 2 p.m. deadline for candidates to register, saying Chiarelli's decision not to seek re-election means College Ward can "move forward with a new positive, hopeful direction."
"I am pleased that this election will no longer be a referendum on the scandals of the current City Councillor, but that we can focus on the many issues that have been coming up at the doors," Johnson said.
Chiarelli's decision not to seek office means there will be at least 12 new elected members on Ottawa City Council for the four year term. Nine councillors are not seeking re-election, Somerset Coun. Catherine McKenney is running for mayor, and a 24th ward is being added to council for the new term.
Watson is also not seeking re-election, following three terms as mayor of Canada's capital.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
'They needed people inside Air Canada:' Police announce arrests in Pearson gold heist
Police say one former and one current employee of Air Canada are among the nine suspects that are facing charges in connection with the gold heist at Pearson International Airport last year.
House admonishes ArriveCan contractor in rare parliamentary show of power
MPs enacted an extraordinary, rarely used parliamentary power on Wednesday, summonsing an ArriveCan contractor to appear before the House of Commons where he was admonished publicly and forced to provide answers to the questions MPs said he'd previously evaded.
Leafs star Auston Matthews finishes season with 69 goals
Auston Matthews won't be joining the NHL's 70-goal club this season.
Trump lawyers say Stormy Daniels refused subpoena outside a Brooklyn bar, papers left 'at her feet'
Donald Trump's legal team says it tried serving Stormy Daniels a subpoena as she arrived for an event at a bar in Brooklyn last month, but the porn actor, who is expected to be a witness at the former president's criminal trial, refused to take it and walked away.
Why drivers in Eastern Canada could see big gas price spikes, and other Canadians won't
Drivers in Eastern Canada face a big increase in gas prices because of various factors, especially the higher cost of the summer blend, industry analysts say.
Doug Ford calls on Ontario Speaker to reverse Queen's Park keffiyeh ban
Ontario Premier Doug Ford is calling on Speaker Ted Arnott to reverse a ban on keffiyehs at Queen's Park, describing the move as “needlessly” divisive.
'A living nightmare': Winnipeg woman sentenced following campaign of harassment against man after online date
A Winnipeg woman was sentenced to house arrest after a single date with a man she met online culminated in her harassing him for years, and spurred false allegations which resulted in the innocent man being arrested three times.
Woman who pressured boyfriend to kill his ex in 2000s granted absences from prison
A woman who pressured her boyfriend into killing his teenage ex more than a decade ago will be allowed to leave prison for weeks at a time.
Customers disappointed after email listing $60K Tim Hortons prize sent in error
Several Tim Horton’s customers are feeling great disappointment after being told by the company that an email stating they won a boat worth nearly $60,000 was sent in error.