No decision yet from 3-judge panel on Jubenville’s judicial review
A trifecta of judges are reserving judgment following a judicial review of a 2023 reprimand of North Kent Coun. Rhonda Jubenville.
The councillor had her day in court last week, although she did not speak on the matter.
Only lawyers Michael Alexander (for Jubenville) and Amy Block (for the municipality and then-C-K Integrity Commissioner Mary Ellen Bench) spoke to the three judges on the panel, Sharon Shore, David Edwards and Richard Lococo.
The judges reserved judgment on the judicial review until a later date.
The 2023 reprimand that docked Jubenville three month’s pay revolved around Bench finding the councillor in violation of the code of conduct for elected officials for social media posts over which flags should fly at municipal buildings.
Alexander filed for a judicial review on Jubenville’s behalf in October of 2023.
At the time Jubenville was hit with the reprimand, she said she was just doing her job.
“Chatham-Kent is a conservative and Christian-based community and these are the values and views that I represent,” Jubenville told The Voice in August of 2023. “In a nutshell, what I’m doing is speaking up for the constituents of Chatham-Kent.”
Bench’s 2023 probe determined Jubenville was in violation of two sections of the code of conduct, in regard to social media posts largely relating to flying Pride flags on municipal and a school’s property.
In a 47-page report, Bench said she had received “many complaints” about social media posts and related behaviour between April and June of this year, stating Jubenville had used “her influence as a public official” to intimidate others, utilizing “bully tactics to silence her critics.”
Bench’s recommendation that Jubenville’s remuneration for serving on council be suspended for three months, which council voted for, is the harshest penalty that could be given.
