After more than a month of angst and pushback, the finale took all of 15 minutes.
In the end, City Council backed Mayor Lenny Curry’s decision to replace two Planning Commission members who declined his request to resign.
A few council members dissented.
John Crescimbeni said he considered Lisa King and Joey McKinnon and their replacements, Donald Adkison and Abel Harding, friends. But as a matter of principle, he couldn’t go along with the removals.
Tommy Hazouri has been the most vocal opponent to the move — saying the decisions fly in the face of independent boards and consolidated government.
“If you’re independent, you’re independent,” he said. “Owe nothing to anyone.”
If Curry continued down this path it would be “more than a river that is dividing this city,” Hazouri said.
On the other side were Aaron Bowman and Bill Gulliford, who supported the mayor’s right to lead. Both said they didn’t know if they would have made the same moves, but nonetheless they supported Curry’s will on this one.
The mayor has said he wants people on boards and commissions who share his vision. His critics have said the removals are political.
“He’s going to make some good decisions, he’s going to make some bad decisions,” said Bowman. “But he’s made the decisions.”
And Curry “sinks or swims” on decisions, Gulliford said.
Most on council supported Curry’s choices. McKinnon was replaced by a 14-3 vote, King by a 13-5 mark. Crescimbeni, Hazouri and Joyce Morgan were the constants, while Jim Love and Scott Wilson joined in opposition to King’s removal.
The decision makes five of the nine commission members new, heading for their first meeting Nov. 5.
King served as chair after being elected by her peers last month. Now that duty falls to Chris Hagan, who was elected vice chair.
Hagan on Tuesday evening said he was confident in the incoming members’ abilities to serve. He doesn’t buy the idea their newness will impact the pace at which business is done.
Commission Secretary Daniel Blanchard also said he’s confident in the new members and that staff would be instrumental in helping. The toughest part, he said, will be for new members to learn the rhythm of the meetings.
“I am glad to see things will get back to normal and won’t be a distraction,” he said.
Shortly after the vote, King stepped into the City Hall atrium to talk with a few people who had come to support her. McKinnon came through security, having missed his vote due to a work conflict. But, he wanted to thank those who had his back.
Both wished the new members well. Study hard and listen, King advised. Be prepared for a lot of reading, McKinnon suggested.
Each said they looked forward to serving the city in some other capacity, but were disappointed in the Tuesday’s outcome.
“It was an appointment that I earned and I believe I was justified to hang on,” said McKinnon, a geologist.
Before King and McKinnon left, they gathered with supporters for a group picture.
Instead of “cheese,” everyone was asked to exclaim “solidarity” before the picture snapped. A couple laughed, a few smiled.
Decisions finalized, there wasn’t much more to do at that point — the issue was over.
@writerchapman
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