Utah Democrat forced out of Salt Lake City Council after scandals
A Utah Democrat and Salt Lake city Council member, Eva Lopez Chavez, has been removed from her council seat after investigators steadfast she did not meet the legal requirement to live in her district. The decision came amid fallout from sexual-misconduct allegations made by four women, including current elected officials, accusing her of unwanted sexual advances-an issue that had already disrupted her campaign for Utah’s 1st Congressional District.
Lopez Chavez’s lawyers say they disagree with the findings and are reviewing options, while the city says her residency violation was concluded by the Salt Lake City recorder’s office following a complaint from a constituent. The council has until June 11 to select a replacement.
A Utah Democrat who had ambitions for a U.S. House seat has now been removed from office amid investigations into her place of residence.
Salt Lake City Council member Eva Lopez Chavez was removed from the council after city officials determined she failed to meet the requirement to maintain residence in her district. The revelation on Tuesday came shortly after Lopez Chavez was hit with allegations from four women that she made unwanted sexual advances toward them, putting her campaign to represent Utah’s 1st Congressional District into limbo.
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Lopez Chavez’s lawyers pledged to push back against the city’s decision to remove her from Salt Lake City District 4, telling the Salt Lake Tribune that she is “reviewing all available remedies.”
“We disagree with the findings of the Salt Lake City recorder’s office and their legal analysis,” her attorneys said. “Councilwoman Lopez Chavez will abide by the decision until we determine next steps.”
Lopez Chavez, once seen as a rising star in the Democratic Party, was forced to end her House campaign after failing to capture a necessary percentage of support from delegates at last month’s state Democratic Party’s nominating convention. She was eliminated during the first round of voting in the convention’s ranked-choice election after facing allegations from several women, including three current elected officials, that she made unwanted sexual advances toward them in recent years. Victoria Petro, who serves on the city council alongside Lopez Chavez, is one of the accusers.
The City Council launched a formal investigation into the sexual misconduct allegations last week, and suspended Lopez Chavez from council duties at the time. She has maintained that she did nothing wrong.
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Concerns that Lopez Chavez failed to meet the legal residency requirement for her seat were triggered by Nicholas Rupp, one of her constituents. Rupp requested an investigation into whether she met the legal residency requirement, prompting the Salt Lake City Attorney’s Office to investigate. City Recorder Keith Reynolds concluded that she did not meet the requirement. The Council has until June 11 to pick her replacement.
“While I’m feeling validated, I’m mostly sad and disappointed,” Rupp posted on social media, according to the outlet. “Sad that my D4 neighbors and I haven’t had legal city representation for months, and I’m disappointed that our elected official didn’t know (or care about) the residency laws for the seat.”
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