Calgary mayor-elect says she will not swear in Sean Chu, asks province for removal options

Calgary mayor-elect Jyoti Gondek says if an embattled re-elected city councillor does not step down before next Monday's swearing-in ceremony, she will not administer him the oath of office — and asked the Alberta government to explore options to remove him if necessary.

Sean Chu unofficially won Ward 4 by just 52 votes after all ballots had been counted in Tuesday's municipal election. The slim victory prompted Chu's primary opponent, DJ Kelly, to announce he would apply for a recount.

Chu has been under scrutiny since CBC News broke the story on Oct. 15 that when he was a 34-year-old police officer in 1997 he faced allegations that involved a 16-year-old girl. 

The councillor said in a statement that he did not know that the teen was underage at the time, and was found guilty of misconduct for touching the girl's leg under a table in a public place. His penalty was a letter of reprimand on his CPS file for a five-year term, which expired in 2008.

The teen, now a woman, said she was sexually assaulted at Chu's home, but no criminal charge was ever filed. 

On Wednesday, CBC News reported that Chu was also involved in a 2008 fight with his wife that ended with police responding and seizing a firearm, which was confirmed through court records.

"The Sean Chu situation continues to get more disturbing," Gondek said at a press conference on Thursday.

"This is a travesty for the young woman that was courageous enough to come forward … She needs to have this taken seriously, and he needs to resign in order for that to happen."

Gondek asked the Alberta government to begin examining options to remove Chu if he does not step down — and said if no action is taken, said she will not swear Chu in to city council.

"[Chu] can absolutely show up. He won't be sworn in by me," Gondek said.

By Thursday morning, all of Chu's newly elected and incumbent council colleagues had asked for him to "do the right thing" or directly called for him to step down.

Premier Jason Kenney also said in a Tuesday news conference that he is also taking the allegations against Chu "very seriously."

"There are few crimes worse than sexual exploitation of a minor," the premier said.  "If he's denying these claims, then he owes the public proof of that denial."

At the time, Kenney said the province doesn't have the authority to remove Chu.