An Essex town councillor won't apologize for speaking his mind after a report on controversial tweets was presented Monday night.
Integrity Commissioner Robert Swayze presented his report on the tweets made by Ward 3 Councillor Chris Vander Doelen to Essex Town Council.
The tweets describe Vander Doelen's recent diagnosis of COVID-19, which he referred to as the "Chinese flu". He also erroneously classified COVID-19 as the "Chinese Origin Virus", when the correct title is "Corona Virus Disease". The latter tweet was removed.
The report included public comments received by the town administration, individual councillors, and Swayze himself. Those comments were originally not part of the presentation, but after that decision was questioned last week by Councillor Sherry Bondy, the comments were allowed.
Two of the recommendations made by Swayze were that Vander Doelen remove the "Chinese flu" tweet and take diversity training, which the councillor said Monday night he won't do.
"Mr. Swayze wants me to take diversity training," said Vander Doelen. "One of my stepsons laughed out loud when he heard that. 'You've already had diversity training. You raised us,' he said. They're half-Asian, by the way. I value their opinion a lot more than that of my accusers."
Vander Doelen acknowledged that many people were hurt by the tweets. But, he insisted that he is not a racist and called Swayze's report an overreach.
"As one of my supporters said the other day, the only investigation that should be going into my tweets is the connection between all the actors in this organized hit job," said Vander Doelen. "He [Swayze] disapproves of a tweet of mine calling them [China] a murderous regime, which they are. Ask Tibet."
The report, which can be read in its entirety on the town's official website, had called for Vander Doelen to issue a public apology, delete the "Chinese flu" tweet, and take diversity training. Swayze said that if Vander Doelen did not comply by July 19, his pay could be suspended for up to two months.
By a recorded 6-1 vote, councillors accepted Swayze's report. Vander Doelen was the lone dissenter. Mayor Larry Snively was absent and Deputy Mayor Richard Meloche presided.
Vander Doelen has not responded to repeated requests from Blackburn News for comment, but told a local radio station that it was not his intention to offend the region's Asian community.
---with files from Adelle Loiselle, Maureen Revait, and Allanah Wills
