Port Coquitlam's embattled mayor has once again refused to resign following his conviction on two counts of assault last week. Mayor Scott Young was asked by council to hand in a letter of resignation at his first council meeting on Monday night following his guilty plea last week on two charges of assaulting his former girlfriend and her boyfriend at her home last year. It was the third time his fellow councillors had demanded his resignation since the mayor was arrested last year and spent Easter weekend in jail. The latest motion, brought forth by all six of Port Coquitlam's councillors, read: "Now that Scott Young has admitted guilt, the city councillors are once again requesting that the mayor resign immediately." All of the city council, except Young, voted for the motion. Coun. Michael Wright said he was not surprised at Young's refusal and said working with the mayor had become very awkward for the councillors. "Most people are absolutely incredulous that he is still the mayor of the city of Port Coquitlam and has not resigned," said Wright.
Apart from asking Young to resign voluntarily, the council has no legal options to force the mayor out. But he will have to answer to the public if he decides to run again in the November civic election. Young did not speak to the media following the meeting. He has been involved in municipal politics in Port Coquitlam since 1990, when he was elected as a school trustee. He was elected as a city councillor in 1996 and became the city's 14th mayor in 2001. Young pleaded guilty to two charges of assault and one charge of breaching the conditions of an undertaking, all stemming from an incident at the home of his former girlfriend last year. The B.C. mayor had faced a total of seven charges, including assault, criminal harassment and breaking and entering, following his arrest on April 4, 2007. The Crown stayed the proceedings on the remaining four charges last week when Young appeared in Port Coquitlam provincial court. He will be sentenced at a later date.
1 comment:
Does that mean that Sean Harvey can run for Mayor again?
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