Valdese mayor draws criticism for action

I was not able to attend tonight’s town council meeting, but I was thankful to be able to watch it on YouTube. However, I must say that I was appalled and saddened that you allowed a citizen to verbally attack and bully, by his direct insults, Town Council Member Glenn Harvey!!

Linkous had already sent a hate-filled email, and this email was the direct cause of Roger Heavner’s resignation! Then, you deliberately and I must say with hate yourself, which is very evident in your demeanor, allowed Linkous to stand in the town council meeting and publicly attack and bully Mr. Harvey once again!!

Why did I say your demeanor portrayed your hate? Let me explain. I have a friend who attended ONLY ONE town council meeting. She texted me after the meeting asking, “Do you like our mayor?” After my reply, she stated “You could just see the hate on his face and in his actions for Mr Harvey!” What a shame. I am ashamed!

One of your responsibilities as mayor, presiding over a town council meeting, is maintaining decorum in the town council meeting.

You, as mayor, can warn a citizen when their presentation turns toward attacking or bullying, and you failed miserably in tonight’s meeting. As mayor, you can enforce rules by warning people, stopping people, or even ordering them to leave a meeting.

You did that very thing, and rightly so, on Nov. 6, 2023. when you felt a citizen was verbally attacking one of the town council members!

Why would you stop that citizen on Nov. 6, 2023, but allow a citizen tonight to verbally attack and bully a town council member? I would like to share my thoughts on that. It is because on Nov. 6, 2023, that town council member who was being verbally attacked, was in your group of friends, a part of the group of citizens that you “rub shoulders with.”

Because of your dislike of Mr. Harvey, your action tonight definitely showed your favoritism, which a mayor should never, ever do!!

I have found the minutes from the Nov. 6, 2023, meeting as proof that you did, indeed, set forth guidelines for open forums. The guidelines clearly state that speakers will address ALL comments to the ENTIRE council as a whole and NOT ONE INDIVIDUAL MEMBER.

Furthermore, your guidelines states that the speaker should be courteous and respectful at ALL times. Gracious, again I must say that tonight you failed miserably!

I most certainly cannot be the only one who feels this way. It is my guess that the entire town council, the lawyer and a large number in the audience were just as shocked as I was that you allowed this to happen! Yes, I was ashamed that the mayor allowed such ... and you should be ashamed as well!

BRENDA SHUPING

Valdese resident