Saundra McDavid

Eagle Mayor Phil Bandy appeared to be infringing on our First Amendment rights recently, when he lost his temper and made inappropriate comments during the December 30^th and January 26^th Eagle City Council meetings.  The mayor repeatedly interrupted public testimony and left many questioning the appropriateness of Eagle’s city leader.  Add to this the Mayor’s personal attacks on a city council member during the budget discussions in 2008 and it is clear that an alarming pattern is emerging.

In response to testimony by Eagle resident Patricia Minkiewicz in December, Mayor Bandy stated “Ma’m you are not a citizen of the City of Eagle and I get very tired of you coming in here and scolding us for doing things when you don’t have the ability to vote, you are not a citizen, you live in the area of impact, that is for granted, but Pat it gets a little tiresome to get scolded by someone who does not have the position or standing to do so.”

The First Amendment to the Constitution gives all of us the freedom of speech and the right to petition the government for a redress of grievances.   This right of petition allows all of us the ability to address our elected politicians on issues of misconduct, corruption, waste, incompetence, and generally the ability to vent our frustrations.

“A Prince, whose character is thus marked by every act which may define a Tyrant, is unfit to be the ruler of a free people.” Declaration of Independence, July 4^th, 1776

Is this tyrannical conduct by Eagle’s Mayor barreling out of control? If residents do not have the position or standing to admonish the mayor, then does the mayor believe that he is accountable to no one?

The only way to solve the problems our community is facing is by speaking openly about them, encouraging discourse and providing solutions.  Everyone has standing to address their concerns and should be encouraged to do so without having to face the wrath of a mayor who appears to have a problem with criticism.  Instead of resorting to ad hominem attacks and childish comments, Eagle’s Mayor needs to abandon the tyranny, step up and become a leader.   Perhaps the first step is an apology to the residents of Eagle’s area of impact.

The audio of the outbursts are:

Bandy_McDavid_01_26_10

Bandy_Minkiewicz_Dec09

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