The Herndon Mayor Steve DeBenedittis and Councilman Dennis Husch both took exception to being dressed down by several citizens during ‘citizens’ time’ during a recent Herndon town council meeting. Apparently both men had participated in a demonstration outside a fund raising event for Democratic hopeful Steven Miller, attended by Governor Tim Kaine.
2 women both spoke of their disappointment that their elected respresentatives during their 3 minutes of time to discuss items that were not on the agenda. The councilman and mayor both attempted to speak over the citizens who were not going to have any of that!
According to The Observer:
Citizens normally have three minutes to discuss anything that’s not on the agenda. Ruth Tatlock attempted to use her time to express disappointment and concern that some members of the Town Council were either present or actively participating in a protest last Wednesday outside a campaign event for Democrat Stevens Miller, the candidate challenging Thomas D. Rust in the 86th state house district. Gov. Tim Kaine attended the event.
Tatlock referred to the protest as a “tea party” and asked the Council what kind of judgment it showed to openly demonstrate against people of whom the town is asking favors. “I know it’s a free country and everybody is allowed to protest. However, when to do it is important,” Tatlock said.
Interrupting, Husch elevated his voice to DeBenedittis saying, “Mr. Mayor, this is out of order. This is out of order,” while Tatlock continued to read. After continuous attempts to have Tatlock sit down, the mayor asked for her microphone to be shut off so she wouldn’t be heard by the viewers at home.
Husch began to argue that the Council Chambers was a place to do Town of Herndon business and not a place for making political statements or individual attacks. Tatlock argued back saying she was discussing town business and that she was stating her opinion. Husch said Tatlock was out of line and told her to stay out of his business.
As soon as Barbara Glakas, the next speaker, began to speak about last week’s rally, DeBenedittis began to interrupt her. Asking for her three minutes, Glakas continued to speak and said she was not there to question the rights of Council members to express their opinions but to question their judgment.
Glakas said as the highest elected official, the mayor could have handled the governor’s visit in a more appropriate way. “I believe the more appropriate thing for you to have done would have been for you to greet the governor to our town even if you do have opposing views on some issues,” Glakas said.
Glakas said most of the officials being protested against were the very people the Town Council must work with in order to get things done for the benefit of the people of Herndon. She said she believes Council members must meet a higher standard of decorum than the average citizen and that Council members are elected officials who are responsible for representing the town.
“Demonstrations of such public and partisan protest make it difficult for Council members to represent all the citizens of their community. I’m not sure how you think Herndon was helped by engaging in this action,” she said.
Councilman Bill Tirrell defended the protesters by stating that last week’s event was a private, invitation-only campaign fundraiser for which people had to pay $25 to attend. Tirrell said since it was a politically oriented rally and not a regular visit to the town by the governor, he asked the audience to not confuse people’s rights to be present in the downtown, near a political rally, with interference for the potential of the town’s efforts at the state level.
“It was a political rally at which the governor was present. There were no tea parties. There were no tea baggers. There was none of that,” Tirrell said. “As I recall, I saw a person with an American flag, I saw a person with a “Don’t Tread on Me” flag, and a half a dozen or eight people on the street corner. Not exactly a massive problem.”
Tirrell said the protests were nobody’s business except the people who participated. But speaker Jasbinder Singh told the mayor and Town Council that any act performed outside, in public, can affect anybody in the town, making it everybody’s business. Husch said he disagreed.
“While I work for the citizens of this community you don’t own me. The 13th amendment made that clear,” Husch argued. “What I do in my private life, what I do with my family, what I do in the confines of my home is my business. Just like what you do is your business.”
Councilman Richard Downer was the only council member to defend the citizens who spoke. “I have spent 14 and a half years on this Council and we’ve taken a lot of static from people in the audience. I don’t consider that necessarily static,” Downer said. “To go back and forth from the Council, from this dais, with a citizen of this town during a comment session that says ‘anything not on the agenda,’ just seems uncalled for.”
Downer said he feels the actions of the Town Council do reflect on the Town of Herndon. “I’ve always taken the position that my actions in the town, whether it’s official town business or not, reflect on this office and this organization. And that’s my own personal opinion.”
It is good to know that OUR supervisors don’t argue from the dais, unless of course it is Mr. Wills and Chairman Stewart going at it. Many people do have high expectations of their supervisors. They are certainly entitled to express those concerns in person, email, or snail mail. Readers might want to check out the email exchange between a citizen and Councilman Dennis Husch who needs a good lesson in manners. OUR supervisors would never answer a constituent this rudely.
I wonder who the dog is and why he is there? Seems like someone who should have been left home.
I guess the dog was one of the “half a dozen or eight people on the street corner”. Gotta get those numbers up.
It would appear that Mr. Husch needs a refresher course on Robert’s Rules. Absent a point of priviledge, the floor belonged to the citizen making use of her three minutes and thus it was Husch who was interrupting. Generally speaking, absent an egregious allegation or insult, it is the Council’s job to sit there and listen, and occasionally take their medicine for their actions. Not taking a position on whether either side was right, wrong or justified, this is matter of protocol and manners. Sadly, Councilman Husch (and perhaps the mayor) have little sense of either. Save it guys, I know, pot meet kettle.
looks very similar to a certian dog I saw at the last election of our current Herndon town council…The man restraining it looks very -cough cough- familiar as well…
Remember that little episode MH?
rod, that was first thing I thought about when I saw that Great Dane. I’m thinking moon will rember too.
Mom, why save it? What’s wrong with posters on a blog having to “take their medicine” for they actions or inaction? 😉
I was wondering the same thing about the dog too!
Indeed I do, Rod. I was hoping you would pop in and confirm my suspicons on that big guy. I wonder if our bully buddy will show up? I will have a little surprise for him if he does.
coughwinkwinkcough
Mom, thanks for sharing your expertise on Robert’s Rules of Order. It obviously is not one of my fields of expertise. Our supervisors sound like their decorum is much better. Wait! Halt! MH just praised all our supervisors. Earth spinning backwards now.
I spoke too soon. There has been an incident or 2 where supervisors ‘engaged.’ However, 99% of the time they don’t.
http://www.antibvbl.net/index.php/2008/05/23/where-are-the-rules/
We have also had incidents during which supervisors basically tried to shut citizens up.
The dog…I also thought of the Great Dane. Seems to be a trend to bring your big dogs to public meetings…or voting polls.
Does anyone remember what month that bullying in Herndon or Sterling went on? Rob, help me out here please.
Pinko, seems like the big dog is for a purpose, doesn’t it?
Oh, not to worry. He wouldn’t hurt a baby! Will probably show up at Herndon’s next election come May ’10. – Wish the owners were as well behaved and harmless as the dog!
Dog? Fireman getting a ‘thank you’ from a 4-legged friend…
http://i301.photobucket.com/albums/nn55/kapookee/Kiss.jpg
@Moon-howler
Some folks had Rottweilers outside the McCoart building during the Resolution fiasco two years ago. I thought it was a lame attempt of intimidation. You can assume what you want about the presence of the dog, but it’s probably not that big of a deal.
I had a pet skunk once (honest!). I wish I had another one. If I wanted to raise a ‘stink’ that would be the way to go.
😉
Saw a skunk traveling down the side of Waterfall road today, just scurrying along, at least he was going with the flow of traffic, really cute little guy!
Husch is a sociopath. I just have to say that. He nearly lost his seat a year ago because he has alienated just about everyone who follows local issues in Herndon. The Mayor is a descent man but he is influenced by Husch. The man is unhinged.
@Elena
>>>Saw a skunk traveling down the side of Waterfall road today, just scurrying along, at least he was going with the flow of traffic, really cute little guy!
Don’t hijack the thread. 😉
[whispering….. If you get them young and remove the scent gland, they make much better pets than cats. They are very affectionate and extremely playful.]
Now returning to the regularly scheduled discourse……
Can’t people still buy skunk scent? That might clear a room, or an area.
Ring, how long does a skunk live generally speaking? Did you name it Flower?
As for dogs at political events….depends on the dog and the demeanor of everyone involved. Bringing a Rottweiler to something like the McCoart building is not like bringing a yorkie. I would view it as not so subtle intimidation.
I have pictures somewhere of a few pitbulls that were at one of “rallies” hosted by MSF/MWB.
My Godparents had a pet skunk. They do not stink up the joint, and make a real neat pet. I don’t remember how long he lived his name was Pepe(as in Pepe Le Pew. RingDangDong definately better than any ole smelly cat.
Good for these ladies for standing up to their city council members. What a shame that they were treated so rudely by some. I expect that they knew with whom they were dealing though.
@Moon-howler
>>>Can’t people still buy skunk scent? That might clear a room, or an area.
Sure! Cabelas sells it.
>>>Ring, how long does a skunk live generally speaking?
2-4 years in the wild. 6-9 years as a pet.
>>>Did you name it Flower?
Pepe! 🙂
>>> As for dogs at political events….depends on the dog and the demeanor of everyone involved. Bringing a Rottweiler to something like the McCoart building is not like bringing a yorkie. I would view it as not so subtle intimidation.
We agree! 🙂
@Chris
>>> I have pictures somewhere of a few pitbulls that were at one of “rallies” hosted by MSF/MWB.
Not a good public relations tactic on their part! Rottweilers don’t bother me, neither do Dobermans. Pits scare the crap out of me. I’ll never turn my back on one no matter how ‘sweet’ the owner says they are.
>>> I don’t remember how long he lived his name was Pepe(as in Pepe Le Pew.
Pepe seems to be a popular name for a skunk (duh!). 🙂
hahaha I guess that is a good name for a skunk. I agree with you about pitbulls, fairly or unfairly.
More on Herndon Council & 1st Amendment:
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