Saanich’s mayor is being taken to court by a former campaign worker who claims he bought her a vehicle and then took it back after she paid for a year of insurance.
The notice of claim was issued Friday.
In it, Cynthia Carlsen states Richard Atwell bought her a 2007 Audi Q7 for work she did during his campaign.
Carlsen admits she agreed to do campaign work on a volunteer basis, but that she was promised a vehicle after helping him get elected.
“Once he got the mayorship, he told me that because I got him elected that half of that money that he earns is mine and that he would purchase a vehicle for me.”
Carlsen said she paid $1,191 for insurance for the year, but two months into having the vehicle she claims it was taken back by the mayor – in the middle of the night.
“He repeatedly refused to give me the money back and I felt I had no other course of action but to go and file a notice of claim,” Carlsen told CTV News.
According to Atwell, he had promised to “help her out” during the campaign.
“The car was to help her out during our relationship. After the relationship, she instructed me to remove the car and I did so,” Atwell said.
He says he plans to pay Carlsen back for the insurance.
“I plan to reimburse her and to respond in writing to her claim through my lawyer,” he said.
The mayor of Saanich says there has been a serious misunderstanding that needs to be resolved.
“My primary focus is Saanich and doing the best for the community and that’s what I’m going to focus on going forward. These are some lingering items from last year that I’d like to put behind,” he said.
Atwell is in the process of applying for a restraining order against Carlsen. He has 12 days to respond to the notice of claim.
None of the allegations have been proven in court.
