POLITICAL HIT JOB?
Chiarelli cites LRT stance
Embattled Coun. Rick Chiarelli released a lengthy written statement Thursday saying he’s been affected by “serious medical challenges” since mid-August, while dismissing accusations of inappropriate conduct with former staff members and potential new hires as a political hit job.
“This situation has reached a level of seriousness, and has adopted what I can only describe as an apparent ‘mob-mentality’ approach to the inaccurate characterization of past events, where I need to write this to step forward and defend my good name, reputation, and three decades of public service, irrespective of any potential adverse health consequences,” Chiarelli’s statement said.
“I feel that I owe this to my loyal constituents. More importantly, I owe this to my loving wife, and to my three wonderful, accomplished daughters. Their love and support is what keeps me going at this difficult time.”
Chiarelli has been accused of making lewd comments during job interviews and assigning staff to collect intelligence at strip clubs. Some of the women who have made accusations have been identified in the media, but others have not.
The city’s integrity commissioner is looking into the claims.
Three councillors — Catherine McKenney, Shawn Menard and Jeff Leiper — have called for Chiarelli’s resignation if the allegations are true. Mayor Jim Watson and Coun. Theresa Kavanagh, council’s liaison for women and gender equity, have said they are “disturbed by the allegations” and they encouraged women who have had allegedly inappropriate experiences with Chiarelli to talk with the integrity commissioner.
Watson said on Thursday he read Chiarelli’s statement. “Because the matter is before the integrity commissioner, I think it would be most appropriate that I reserve comment at this time,” he said.
Chiarelli asked council to grant him a leave of absence last week for an undisclosed medical reason but was denied. Council put the request on hold and assigned councillors Allan Hubley and Scott Moffatt to help take care of constituent issues in Chiarelli’s College ward.
“I can say, without reservation, that I have never treated a member of my staff (including job candidates) in a sexually harassing, discriminatory, or inappropriate ‘gender-based’ fashion,” Chiarelli’s statement said.
One of the unnamed women, who has worked for the councillor, has publicly shared a text-message exchange between herself and a person alleged to be Chiarelli. The conversation concerned what she should wear to an event.
“… feminine dressy but sexy,” said one of the messages allegedly sent by Chiarelli.
“You said be blunt so: not Hoish but depending on the dress no bra required and black, blue or red usually works,” said another message.
Chiarelli’s statement on Thursday also suggests the allegations are driven by politics.
“People should know that I formally retained legal counsel in July of this year, after learning that I was being targeted over my attempts to bring greater transparency to the LRT procurement process,” said the statement. “I had no idea, at the time, of the direction that these political attacks might take. Then, we were made aware of one of my political adversaries attempting to persuade a number of women to join an organized group to speak negatively about me. Those spoken to definitely included some who have made public complaints in the media.”
Chiarelli had been fighting the city to release details about LRT-related land acquisitions.
After receiving Chiarelli’s statement, the Citizen reached out to him to understand who he thinks is targeting him over the LRT procurement matter.
He didn’t respond by deadline. Chiarelli said the details of the complaints have been reported in the media “with a degree of coordination and timing that is typically seen from seasoned political advisers and/or public relations professionals,” despite the confidentiality requirements of the integrity complaint process. Then Chiarelli suggests workplace discrimination and harassment complaints are not matters for the integrity commissioner to investigate, and should be subject to the processes under the Ontario Human Rights Code.
“I am a respectful, committed and hard-working member of this community. I am, and have always been, fully prepared to defend myself against each and every one of these disturbing allegations that I said inappropriate things in job interviews or at work.
“All I ask is for some accommodation of my current medical condition, and for a fair and appropriate process of adjudication.”
Victoria Laaber, a former staffer who has come forward with allegations, which include being dispatched to strip clubs to gather intel, said Chiarelli’s statement angered her.
“It’s a slight to the intelligence of the voters of Ottawa and of College ward,” Laaber said, adding that she believes it’s also a slight to the #MeToo movement.
“If he thinks people can’t see through that statement, that says a lot about his opinion on the voters.”
Laaber said she came forward with her allegations since she had nothing to fear, now living in B.C., far from Ottawa.
It’s “ridiculous” that Chiarelli believes the allegations were politically orchestrated, she said.
Integrity commissioner Robert Marleau has consistently said he can’t comment on cases that he might have or not have. jwilling@postmedia.comtwitter. com/JonathanWilling
This situation … has adopted what I can only describe as an apparent ‘mob-mentality.’