Colleyville, Texas March 24, 2016
Colleyville’s Mayor David Kelly Suppressing Freedom of Speech?
Note: The following was confirmed as being from a citizen in Colleyville, however LNO is honoring the request not to post the name. Considering the suppression of First Amendment rights, the citizen is concerned about potential retribution.
I recently watched the televised Colleyville City Council meeting of March 22, 2016. At the end of the meeting, resident Claudia Bevill addressed the mayor and council members concerning the rules that Mayor David Kelly recently announced about what was acceptable to discuss during the “Citizens Comments about Items Not on the Agenda”:. For decades the council meetings have ended with citizens being allowed to speak about whatever they choose to share. I don’t recall any mayor ever limiting what could be discussed, nor do I recall any mayor ever attempting to gavel anyone into silence, despite some occasions when it would have been totally appropriate.
Apparently Mrs. Bevill and others interpreted the mayor’s stated rules as an effort to suppress their rights to freely address the council. She mentioned her First Amendment rights in her remarks. Mrs. Bevill expressed her concern that Mayor Kelly’s remarks could be seen as intentionally intimidating and an effort to silence speakers on the basis of their viewpoints. During Mrs. Bevill’s remarks Mayor Kelly interrupted her several times saying she was out of order. Ironically by doing so he was actually proving her point. She was visibly shaken but finished her comments. I understand that following the meeting she was heard to say “why would he do that to a 72 year old grandmother?”
I’ve been an observer of city council meetings for many years. If Mayor Kelly thought Mrs. Bevill’s comments were out of order, perhaps he should visit the city archives and listen to Councilman Mike Taylor verbally attack former Mayor Donna Arp. On numerous occasions Councilman Taylor attacked Mayor Arp, as well as former Councilperson Ginny Tigue, and not once did Mayor Arp gavel Taylor into silence. I also watched Councilman Taylor’s snide remarks about former Councilman Nelson Thibodeaux during the pre-council meeting, and Mayor Kelly made no effort to stop those comments.
The comments section at the end of the council meeting is the only opportunity citizens have to address the full council face to face in public about items not on the agenda. While it can be, and has been, misused at times for political purposes, anyone seeking political office needs to have skin thick enough to weather such incidents occasionally. Mrs. Bevill was advocating for freedom of speech and expression. She was not attacking or being verbally abusive. Quite the opposite, my impression of her is that she is an articulate, well-spoken gentle woman who has recently become interested and involved in her community.
Mayor Kelly has served our city for over a decade. I have heard others say that he does not handle criticism well, nor does he like votes by the council that are not unanimous. That’s a pretty intolerant position for a politician to take. Unfortunately his recent actions only underscore that perception. He seems to have missed a golden opportunity to prove his detractors wrong.
2 Comments
David Medlin
I was there for the pre council meeting where councilman Taylor made his comment characterizing the complaint as character assassination. I saw the tape from the original meeting when this complaint came up, saying something to the effect the young man who earned the Mayor for the day could have written it better than that. Then asked if it was written in crayon.
I’ve seen the responses to my emails to some of the council, and to the mayor and noted how they would not answer the question.
She is right to be concerned at the least the complaints will not be objectively considered at the least, and possibly publicly ridiculed as we just witnessed.
This is the same person who did not want to have citizen comments for that third HD meeting. She is right, this is our right to voice our concerns. He was the one who was out or order.
Her question still rings in my ears, “who’s going to fix this”. Where were the rest of the leaders?
Kathy Hadley
When the government at any level suppresses free speech, something evil is in the works! ALL one has to do is remember their History Lessons from school! For example, Hitler and his tactics to control the people to get his agenda accomplished!, In my opinion, something very evil has happened to Colleyville and the MAJORITY of Colleyville residents because our speech and overwhelming attendance of the City Council meetings was ignored so that Mayor Kelly and his cohorts could destroy Colleyville! However, Hitler did plenty of awful damage, but he wasn’t successful at annihilating the Jews because of the great people of America! Mayor Kelly, Mike Taylor, Nancy C., and Chuck Mogged may do their damage to Colleyville, but God is watching, and the good people of Colleyville won’t give up on HER! The tactics of the evil forces that are suppressing the people, will be removed and the Justice will Prevail, eventually. I believe that God is looking down from Heaven, at Colleyville, TX, with a tear in His eye!