Sean Chu Explained

Sean Chu
Birth Name:Wen-Hsiang Chu
Birth Date:[1]
Birth Place:Taiwan
Residence:Calgary
Office:City of Calgary Councillor
Constituency:Ward 4
Term Start:October 21, 2013
Predecessor:Gael MacLeod
Successor:incumbent
Alma Mater:Mount Royal College
Website:Official website
Twitter

Sean Wen-Hsiang Chu[2] (born 1962 or 1963) is a municipal politician who currently serves as councillor of Ward 4 in Calgary, Alberta. He was elected in the 2013 municipal election.

Electoral record

Chu first entered Canadian politics in 2008 with an unsuccessful run to represent Calgary Buffalo at the provincial level. Running as a member of the PC party, Chu finished second.

His next attempt at office was an unsuccessful run to represent Ward 4 in 2010. During that election, he came in second to Gael MacLeod with 21% of the vote, to her 25%.[3]

2013 municipal election

Chu was elected to represent Ward 4 by capturing 43% of the votes, defeating incumbent Gael MacLeod, who took 40%.[4]

2017 municipal election

Chu was re-elected to represent Ward 4 in 2017 by capturing 48% of the votes (16,327) while the closest rival was Greg Miller with 41% (13,965) followed by Blair Berdusco and Srini Ganti. Total votes cast 33,721.[5]

2021 municipal election

Chu was re-elected to represent Ward 4 in 2021 by capturing 43% of the votes (12,422) defeating rival DJ Kelly with 42% (12,370) by a small margin.[6]

Controversies

Facebook comments with racist undertones

In November 2021, comments Chu made on Facebook in 2011 resurfaced. His comment is listed below:

"Here’s my cheapest solution to air travel security: every airplane carries a cute live pet pig on board. Almost all terrorists will not die together with pigs."[7]

Allegation of sexual assault

In October 2021, news broke that Chu had been found guilty of professional misconduct in relation to sexual contact with a minor while he was a police officer with the Calgary Police Service by his own admission. Chu says he was unaware of the victim's age. The incident took place in 1997, when Chu was 34, and the victim was 16. Chu was investigated for two allegations: one for bringing the victim into his home in the "early morning hours" and the other for sexual misconduct in his actions with the victim. Following a hearing, Chu was convicted on one count of misconduct. The victim pursued the matter for nine years, before a publication ban was lifted.[8]

Investigative reporting by CTV News uncovered that Chu had been asked to drop the girl off at her house at the request of another officer, but instead took her to his house. Chu's claim that he had met the minor at an establishment that was an "18-plus licensed establishment" was called into question, as the location was a public restaurant. Allegedly, the victim was then sexually assaulted in Chu's home, with Chu allegedly pulling out his Calgary Police Service handgun to coerce the victim. Reports following the incident's internal investigation stated that: “disturbing in the evidence presented by Constable Chu was his readiness to use police business cards, police pagers and his police appeal to enhance his off-duty personal life.”[9]

Calls for Chu's resignation rose following these allegations, with #ResignSeanChu trending on Twitter. Bipartisan calls from both the UCP's Leela Aheer and the NDP's Janis Irwin called for his immediate resignation as a Calgary city councillor, following his reelection with a majority of 52 votes. Their calls were later joined by Premier of Alberta Jason Kenney, Minister of Municipal Affairs Ric McIver, and MP Michelle Rempel Garner. Fellow Calgary city council member Kourtney Branagan stated in a social media post that she herself was a victim of sexual assault and that "[we] cannot send a signal to the women of this city that those in leadership positions who are guilty of offences against women and minors are allowed to hold power."[10] Chu has faced calls to resign from all members of Calgary's city council including mayor Jyoti Gondek.[11]

Gondek stated she will refuse to swear Chu in as a city councillor, requesting that the provincial government intervene due to Chu's refusal to step down. Gondek particularly emphasized the recall provisions within the Municipal Government Act and the Local Authorities Election Act, or Bill 52.[12] [13]

On October 24, 2021, two protests in support and opposing Chu's resignation occurred at Olympic Plaza. Incoming mayor Gondek attended the rally to push Chu to resign.[14] [15]

Social media

Chu is a frequent user of Twitter and has made several statements on the platform for which he has later apologized.

Green Line controversies

Chu has made numerous claims over the Green Line and its lack of progress in coming to North Calgary.

City controversies

Amanda Wilkie defamation lawsuit

In April 2015 Chu's former campaign manager, Amanda Wilkie, launched a lawsuit for $275,000 alleging that Chu made defamatory comments about her when he spoke to a mutual acquaintance in November 2013 and on other occasions.[24]

Personal life

In 2008 Chu was involved in a domestic dispute with his wife, where police were called and a firearm of his was removed from the house.[25]

External links

Notes and References

  1. News: Safety in park key for Ward 4; Open race with 11 vying to replace Hawkesworth. Cuthbertson. Richard. October 4, 2010. B2. Calgary Herald.
  2. Web site: Five Calgary city councillors talk about their real names. Dippel. Scott. CBC News. March 25, 2018. October 15, 2021.
  3. Web site: Calgary municipal election, 2010 official results. City of Calgary. 14 September 2015. 22 October 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20211022090829/https://www.calgary.ca/content/dam/www/ca/city-clerks/documents/election2013/2010-general-election-results.pdf. live.
  4. Web site: Calgary municipal election, 2013 official results. City of Calgary. 14 September 2015. 14 September 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20150914195257/http://www.calgary.ca/CA/city-clerks/Scripts/Elections2013/2013-General-Election-Results.htm#COUNCILLOR4. live.
  5. Web site: Calgary municipal election, 2017 official results. City of Calgary. 25 November 2017. 30 December 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20171230230038/http://www.calgary.ca/election/Pages/results/Official-Results.aspx. live.
  6. Web site: Election. 2021 Results - Calgary General Election. 2021-10-20. www.calgary.ca. en. 2021-10-19. https://web.archive.org/web/20211019212605/https://www.calgary.ca/election/results/2021-results.html. live.
  7. News: Problematic Facebook comments from Sean Chu resurface online. Citynews. 2021-11-04.
  8. News: Coun. Sean Chu disciplined for physical contact with 16-year-old girl when he was police officer. CBC News. 2021-10-15. en. 2021-10-15. https://web.archive.org/web/20211015231707/https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/calgary/sean-chu-calgary-councillor-police-act-charges-1.6212651. live.
  9. News: Le . Kathy . Documents reveal Sean Chu admitted to 'consensual' sexual acts with teen girl while a Calgary police officer . 22 October 2021 . CTV News Calgary . . Bell Media Inc. . 18 October 2021 . en . However, information obtained by CTV News indicates that the girl was not at an 18-plus licensed establishment, but that she was at a restaurant called the Husky House and Chu was only there at the request of another officer to drive the girl home when he touched her leg. CTV News has learned that instead of dropping her off at her home, he took her to his home where the girl alleged he sexually assaulted her, and where she alleged Chu pulled out his Calgary Police Service handgun. . 21 October 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20211021163419/https://calgary.ctvnews.ca/documents-reveal-sean-chu-admitted-to-consensual-sexual-acts-with-teen-girl-while-a-calgary-police-officer-1.5628292 . live .
  10. News: Thomas . Stephanie . Fedor . Tyson . Growing calls for Calgary Coun. Sean Chu's resignation over admission of sexual encounter with minor . 20 October 2021 . CTV News Calgary . . . 20 October 2021 . en . 21 October 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20211021001931/https://calgary.ctvnews.ca/mobile/growing-calls-for-calgary-coun-sean-chu-s-resignation-over-admission-of-sexual-encounter-with-minor-1.5630518 . live .
  11. News: Kost . Hannah . Pressure for Calgary Coun. Sean Chu to resign intensifies as Gondek, councillors speak out . 21 October 2021 . cbc.ca . . Canadian Broadcasting Corporation . 20 October 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20211020233111/https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/calgary/sean-chu-resignation-allegations-calgary-1.6218164 . live .
  12. News: Toy . Adam . Embattled Coun. Sean Chu won't step down from office; mayor-elect Jyoti Gondek says he 'won't be sworn in by me' - Calgary Globalnews.ca . 22 October 2021 . globalnews.ca . Global News.
  13. Web site: Kanygin . Jordan . 'He will not be sworn in by me': Mayor-elect Gondek urges Chu to resign before Monday's swearing-in . CTV News . CTV News Calgary . 22 October 2021 . en . 21 October 2021.
  14. News: Rallies for and against Calgary Coun. Sean Chu held at the same time on Sunday . 24 October 2021 . cbc.ca . . Canadian Broadcasting Corporation.
  15. News: Fedor . Tyson . Hundreds gather in downtown Calgary for duelling rallies over city councillor . 24 October 2021 . CTV News Calgary . . 24 October 2021 . en.
  16. Web site: Sean Chu 'not campaigning' by door-knocking in another councillor's ward. 2016-07-04. CBC News - Calgary. CBC. 2017-08-25. 2016-09-25. https://web.archive.org/web/20160925103548/http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/calgary/sean-chu-says-not-campaining-1.3663148. live.
  17. Web site: Calgary councillor stands by 'global warming alarmist' tweet. 2015-06-29. 2014-01-05. CBC. 2015-05-30. https://web.archive.org/web/20150530191038/http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/calgary/calgary-councillor-stands-by-global-warming-alarmist-tweet-1.2484828. live.
  18. Web site: MacGregor . Lisa . Calgary City Councillor Sean Chu faces backlash over tweet . Global Calgary . May 24, 2015 . June 25, 2015 . June 26, 2015 . https://web.archive.org/web/20150626120201/http://votecalgary.ca/ward/sean-chu/ . live .
  19. News: Chu criticizes city staff over Centre Street 'Green Line' notification, memo suggests otherwise Metro Calgary. metronews.ca. 2017-08-25. en. 2017-08-25. https://web.archive.org/web/20170825103711/http://www.metronews.ca/news/calgary/2014/08/27/green-line-along-calgarys-centre-street-could-result-in-compensation-and-lawsuits-chu.html. live.
  20. News: Calgary leaders express frustration at reduction of the Green Line LRT route. Tom Kmiec. 2017-08-25. en. 2017-08-25. https://web.archive.org/web/20170825104940/http://www.tomkmiec.ca/green_line_lrt_reduction. live.
  21. Web site: Sean Chu Your Voice – Ward 4. seanchu.ca. en-US. 2017-08-25. 2017-08-25. https://web.archive.org/web/20170825121644/http://seanchu.ca/. live.
  22. News: Sean Chu says he's 'not campaigning' by door-knocking in another councillor's ward. CBC News. 2017-08-25. en. 2016-09-25. https://web.archive.org/web/20160925103548/http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/calgary/sean-chu-says-not-campaining-1.3663148. live.
  23. Web site: Sean Chu admonished for 'garbage' comment about Cycle Track survey. Calgary Sun. 2017-08-25.
  24. Web site: Slade . Daryl . Former campaign manager sues Sean Chu for defamation . . May 1, 2015 . June 25, 2015 . June 26, 2015 . https://web.archive.org/web/20150626101707/http://calgaryherald.com/news/local-news/former-campaign-manager-sues-sean-chu-for-defamation . live .
  25. Web site: Calgary police called in 2008 to domestic incident involving Sean Chu and firearm CBC News.

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