The mayor of Salt Lake City has spoken out following allegations of sexual misconduct against a council member. Mayor Erin Mendenhall urged the public to 'start by believing' the alleged victims after Democrat Eva Lopez Chavez was accused of a series of unwanted sexual advances by four people.
Mayor's Response
'I appreciate the courage of the victims who have come forward,' Mendenhall said on Wednesday, as reported by the Salt Lake Tribune. Lopez Chavez is accused of physically restraining four individuals, including fellow council member Victoria Petro and two other elected officials, during the alleged incidents before she joined the council in 2024.
Mendenhall described the accusations as 'disheartening' and stated they 'hurt the public's trust.' However, she noted that Lopez Chavez would not be removed from her position pending the conclusion of an investigation. 'We will see how this plays out,' she said.
The council member has denied the accusations, vowing to retain her position as a 'fair and independent investigation' proceeds. Mendenhall added, 'I really respect the courage of council member Petro for coming forward.'
Details of Allegations
The investigation was triggered by an internal complaint filed by Lopez Chavez against Petro and council Chair Alejandro Puy, which led to a review of the council's code of conduct. Mayor Mendenhall acknowledged the difficulty of the situation, saying, 'It's difficult when one of the victims is another person on the City Council.'
Puy commented, 'I truly lament the circumstances that have brought us to this point. But when safety and institutional integrity are at issue, inaction is not an option for me.'
Mendenhall confirmed that the editorial board has initiated the process for the council to formally direct city staff to launch an investigation. She added that, if it proceeds, the investigation would involve 'willing participation from our administration - and that includes HR and any other departments that may be necessary.'
Denials and Defense
Through her attorney, Greg Skordas, Lopez Chavez previously stated that nothing 'inappropriate' occurred during her interactions with three of the alleged victims, and contact 'never occurred' with the fourth. 'She is prepared to address [the allegations] in any forum. She stands ready to submit to any polygraph test regarding these various allegations requested,' Skordas added.
Lopez Chavez, a Democratic congressional candidate, has maintained her innocence, claiming to have communications with all four alleged victims that are 'entirely inconsistent with these untrue allegations.'
Victims' Accounts
The four alleged victims—Petro, Maggie Regier, State Representative Hoang Nguyen, and now State Senator Jen Plumb—each described unwanted advances occurring in social settings. Petro, Regier, and Nguyen said they told others at the time, but all four did not report the allegations or speak publicly until now.
They decided to come forward as Lopez Chavez began her candidacy for Congress in Utah's new 1st District, and after comments she made in response to online posts that minimized sexual assault by fellow candidate Nate Blouin. Lopez Chavez, who identified herself as a survivor of sexual assault and domestic violence, called for Blouin to drop out of the race, stating, 'Our communities deserve leaders who take these issues seriously - not just in rhetoric but in conduct.'
Specific Incidents
Petro alleged that in September 2022, after a wedding, Lopez Chavez grabbed her by the throat and pushed her against a pillar, saying, 'The only reason I still f*** men is because a woman hasn't shown me what I really want.' Petro recalled pushing her hand away and reporting the incident to Puy shortly after.
Plumb alleged that at a friend's birthday party in November 2022, Lopez Chavez pushed her against a wall and made an unwanted sexual advance, saying, 'You're sure you're straight?' Skordas denied this, stating Lopez Chavez 'never touched Jen Plumb.'
Nguyen alleged that after a campaign event, Lopez Chavez asked for a ride and then leaned over, holding her shoulders down, and demanded a kiss. Regier claimed that at a Human Rights Campaign event, Lopez Chavez cornered them and pinned them against a wall, refusing to let them leave until a friend intervened.
Regier's campaign supervisor, Corey Cronin, described the incident as 'an incredibly embarrassing moment' and noted that Regier felt harassed. Regier stated, 'If she wants to run for Congress, then she needs to be held to a behavioral standard.'
Council Chair's Stance
Council Chair Alejandro Puy, in February, said he was inclined to encourage a review of council policies following concerns about Lopez Chavez's behavior. He recommended 'clear, consistent guidelines that protect staff, councilmembers and constituents alike.' In an email, he added, 'The reports and firsthand accounts of council member Eva Lopez Chavez's past behavior cannot be dismissed or minimized. They suggest a pattern of conduct that has affected colleagues in our own council.'
Mayor Mendenhall previously stated that the council was not aware of the allegations and that had they been known, 'appropriate steps would have been taken immediately.'
