EDMONTON –

The president of Catholic schools in Edmonton is refusing to say why another school trustee resigned a week after being re-elected by acclamation – and Carla Smiley is not speaking publicly either.

“It would be inappropriate for us to discuss the individual reasons for resigning. This disclosure rests with the individual and in this case Ms. Smiley,” President Sandra Palazzo said in an interview Thursday.

Smiley stepped down on Tuesday and the announcement was made at a board meeting on Wednesday.

Smiley did not respond to multiple messages from CTV News Edmonton.

No date had been set for a by-election to replace Smiley, but a vote could cost the school board thousands of dollars.

“It is unfortunate that the division incurs these costs related to a by-election, but we will move forward,” Palazzo said.

Smiley was first elected in 2017. She was unopposed in the October 21 vote.

“It is very rare for individuals to win and then refuse to take the job,” political scientist Chaldeans Mensah said.

A similar case occurred in Sturgeon County this week – an elected councilor resigned there for “personal reasons.” Ron Shaw has also not made public his explanation.

Mensah said the two resignations were a “mockery and a mess” of the democratic process.

“Be frank and share this information with the public. I think they will be more understanding and more united,” he advised.

Smileys Twitter account shared an anti-vaccination article on Oct. 26, but it was not known if that played a role in his resignation.

With files from Amanda Anderson of CTV News Edmonton