Now, O’Brien — a former employee of College Coun. Rick Chiarelli, who also lives in his ward — won’t have to worry, as the veteran councilman is not running again in the October city election. “It’s a huge relief that this is not going to happen,” O’Brien said. After several women filed complaints, Chiarelli received a 450-day suspension of pay last year, the result of an investigation by the former city of Ottawa integrity commissioner into conduct that was ultimately determined to be sexual harassment. Since then, Chiarelli has faced several shocking new allegations. He has consistently denied the accusations, calling them at various times “absurd and unbelievable” and the result of an “obvious mob mentality”. Despite the complaints, his office said in June that is expected to run for re-election. He had made an appointment to sign up late Thursday, but he didn’t show up — and he also didn’t sign up on Friday, the last day applicants could do so. “I was honestly surprised [he didn’t put his name forward]” said O’Brien, who was a witness at the integrity commissioner’s inquiry but not one of the official whistleblowers. “I thought he would.” She’s not the only College resident expressing surprise — and excitement — that they’ll have new representation at city hall. The doors are locked at the polling station in Cyrville Road. No cheers were required for the city council seats in pic.twitter.com/4L7UKgTJcD —@KatePorterCBC “I’ve been waiting for him to run again,” said Tristan Maack, past president of the Lynnwood Village Community Association in Bells Corners. Maack said he’s glad Chiarelli decided not to run because he was concerned the alderman could win back his seat. “We have some candidates here that, you know, represent different parts of the political spectrum, but they seem, you know, enthusiastic and energetic. I think, you know, that’s a good thing,” Maack said.
5 candidates run in the College hall
There are five write-in candidates to run for College Ward: Laine Johnson, Granda Kopytko, Wendy Davidson, Pat McGarry and Vilteau Delvas. Johnson and McGarry said Chiarelli not running doesn’t change how they run their campaigns. “I am very focused on running a positive campaign based on the skills, experience and knowledge that I bring to the residents of College Ward and, to a greater extent, the City of Ottawa,” McGarry said. McGarry, owner and COO of Hulse, Playfair and McGarry Inc., a funeral home with multiple locations in Ottawa, said he brings his business acumen to a campaign focused on safe roads, cost of living and fiscal responsibility. Johnson said her campaign was prepared for the possibility of Chiarelli running, but she knows her neighbors are now “breathing a sigh of relief.” “They’re also very excited now to know that we’re going to get a proper, respectful response from a councilman for the College District,” said Johnson, who has been knocking on the door focusing on issues such as safe streets, affordable transit and housing. and smart development. “The number one priority I’ve heard from most is getting back into that relationship with the people who elected you,” he said. “College wing people feel left behind and big decisions are being made in town hall — now and certainly in the future.” Former Rick Chiarelli staffer Stephanie Dobbs says she’s glad the councilman isn’t running again, but disappointed he left on his own terms. (Francis Ferland/CBC)
He has to leave on his own terms
The CBC reached out to Chiarelli’s team Saturday to ask why he wasn’t running again, but did not receive a response before publication. While O’Brien is relieved that Chiarelli won’t be on the city council again and is excited about the new representation at city hall, she said there is still more work to be done. “I think a battle is being won, but the war is not over,” he said. “We still need a proper accountability framework in the Ontario Municipal Act.” Stephanie Dobbs, another former Chiarelli employee and one of the official whistleblowers against him, echoed that sentiment. Dobbs said she’s glad Chiarelli isn’t running again, but the fact that he was allowed to make that decision doesn’t sit well with her. “He has to come out on his own terms,” she said. “He’s going to get a nice pension that’s going to be more than he ever paid me to work for him. And it’s just, it’s very annoying in that regard.”
