Calgary city councillor Richard Pootmans steps down from role effective immediately

Ward 6 Coun. Richard Pootmans is stepping down arsenic his relation arsenic metropolis councillor effectual immediately, assembly learned during its gathering precocious Tuesday.

The announcement was made by the City of Calgary’s main administrative officer, David Duckworth, aft a lengthy closed-door league with assembly labelled arsenic a ‘personnel matter’ connected the agenda.

“Today, I received written announcement from Coun. Pootmans that helium is stepping down arsenic Ward 6 councillor for idiosyncratic and household reasons,” Duckworth said. “Under the Municipal Government Act, this announcement is effectual immediately.”

Duckworth thanked Pootmans for his “dedication and work to his ward” connected behalf of metropolis administration.”

Pootmans was notably absent from assembly chambers during Tuesday’s meeting.

In a connection released moments later, Calgary Mayor Jyoti Gondek said she wanted to guarantee Ward 6 residents that they “will proceed to beryllium well-represented during this play of transition.”

“Details of however we volition guarantee uninterrupted practice are presently being finalized and volition beryllium shared with residents soon,” the connection said.

Pootmans was elected to correspond Ward 6 successful the 2021 municipal election, however, helium served successful the relation for 2 presumption betwixt 2010 and 2017.

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Prior to entering politics, Pootmans worked for 28 years successful the backstage assemblage arsenic good arsenic six years with Calgary Economic Development.

Several councillors appeared visibly affectional during the announcement Tuesday.

“He is simply a friend, a colleague, and whilst I don’t cognize the particulars of the situation, I’d similar to connection my enactment to him successful immoderate mode that I tin and I’m definite each of assembly feels the aforesaid way,” Ward 10 Coun. Andre Chabot said.

“It was an honour and a pleasance to enactment alongside him.”

“It is with large sadness and a batch of disappointment to cognize I’m not going to beryllium moving with my buddy anymore,” Ward 14 Coun. Peter Demong said.

More to come…