COMMUNITY NEWS
Battle lines drawn at City Hall over election mailer

By Linda Hobbs
In a heated exchange during the July 10 City Council meeting, former council candidates requested a local investigation into the anonymous attack postcard mass-mailed prior to the recent special City Council election in which Councilmember Gabriel Ortega and Councilmember Mary DeGroot prevailed, both of whom were advocated by the anonymous postcard.

Former City Councilman Al Lender and former City Council candidates Jim Coke and Louis Porsia, each of whom was attacked in the postcard (even though Lender was not running), asked that the City conduct an independent investigation into the postcard.

They were met with opposition by Human Resources Director Irma Christie’s husband, Bill Christie, Councilmember Darell Craighead and Councilmember Mary DeGroot.

Porsia commented, “If the people who sent out these postcards are city employees, they should be punished. The city needs to show that this sort of behavior will not be tolerated.”

Mayor Jeri Howells agreed that hiring an independent investigator is important. “I think it’s something we need to do,” Howells said. “It doesn’t help city employee moral at all. It makes them wonder who will be the next target. We need to be proactive as a Council.”

Human Resources Director Irma Christie addressed Council stating that the anonymous letter issued in January 2007 reflected illegal activity, and that was why the City conducted an investigation. Howells maintained that the recent postcard mailing was an unethical campaign violation, if not a statutory one.

Councilmember Ortega added, “I came out on the good side of that card, but I also signed the letter to the Secretary of State asking that this be looked into.” He added that he wasn’t asked for permission to be on the postcard, and that the card was an attempt to degrade people who are trying to serve their community. Ortega said that it was a clean campaign until the last weekend when the card went out, and, “I would love for the City to go after this, and let the people know that during the next election this won’t happen.”

Howells agreed that if the City of Fountain is the All American City, this type of behavior should not be tolerated.

Mayor Pro Tem Terrie Burke added that an investigation would clear the names of those who didn’t commit the act, and therefore she supported it.

In response, Craighead said that before money be spent on an investigation, Council should determine whether the mailing reflects illegal activity. It was his opinion that nothing could be done if no laws were broken. He suggested the Fountain Police Department should determine whether anything illegal had occurred.

Howells explained that since the Police Chief Charles Crawford is named in the complaint, it would be inappropriate to ask the Fountain Police Department to look into the matter. She added that even if nothing illegal happened, mass-mailing a deceptive postcard, made to appear to be an official City Hall document was an unethical act.

In a tense exchange, Councilmember DeGroot defiantly pronounced, “I don’t like being sued. I’ve never done anything wrong in my life, and I’m not going to stand for this being a slander on my name.”

Porsia, who was attacked in the postcard responded that as far as he knew, no one was being sued. The complaint was a call for an investigation to be conducted, not an official charge.

Howells added that she welcomes criticism by any person willing to give their name, so she may respond, but an anonymous letter, “Particularly one so filled with hate,” Howells said, “and lies and innuendo is very different.”

Former City Council candidate Jim Coke addressed Council, saying that he named names in the letter to the Secretary of State, and if the people identified, including Christie, DeGroot and Craighead didn’t like it, “Tough.”

He added, “I think we need to start cleaning up our own city, not wait for the Secretary of State to do it for us.”

Craighead said that he had nothing to do with the postcard, and. “If legal action comes up later, that’s my choice.”

Bill Christie took the podium saying that he was named because he was only one of two people to purchase a current voter registration mailing list prior to the election. The other party was former City Council candidate Sam Provenza, who was attacked in the postcard.

Christie stated that he’d been implicated, and yet he has purchased voter registration lists for the past five general elections.

As Howells attempted to reply that this could be confirmed by an investigation, Christie cut the Mayor off, demanding the floor. He insisted the City not engage in a “witch hunt.”

In later commentary, Provenza stated that he had purchased a voter registration list in order to mail his own regular campaign cards.

“It was an open and honest mailing,” Provenza said, adding he’d been upfront at all times and, “An independent investigation is the way to go. I’m glad the Mayor is willing to listen to the people and act on their behalf.”

The Secretary of State Administrative Courts Executive Director Beth Lipscom acknowledged the letter of complaint has been received, and a telephone conference will occur on July 24 to set a hearing date. “Unless the complainants withdraw,” Lipscom added.

It was resolved to look into finding an independent investigator to track down the culprit or culprits. With November elections just on the horizon, and a previous anonymous attack letter mailed January 5, 2007, there is concern similar activity will sully future elections.

CONTACT THE WRITER • linda.hobbs@ftnvalleynews.com