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Lemoore City Council blasts fellow member Holly Blair in two-hour council meeting
At least one member, Dave Brown, pushed to censure Blair for her behavior. However, the city currently has no mechanism for disciplining one of its own. Lemoore City Attorney Jenell Van Binsdbergen warned the city’s governing body that it would have to create a policy for such a move, including holding a public hearing.
Councilmembers cannot remove a fellow member once elected to office. The only mechanism currently available to remove someone is for the public to conduct a recall election. Mayor Ray Madrigal suggested that he considered asking Blair to resign.
The noteworthy exchanges took place at Tuesday night’s regular council meeting during which council members approved a much-talked-about “Lemoore City Council Rules of Procedure” and a “Code of Conduct.”
After breezing through the regular agenda, the packed chamber watched as councilmembers tore into Blair, criticizing her for demeaning the Lemoore Police Department and continuing to publish social media posts that they say reflect poorly on the council.
It was just one week ago (April 10) that Blair was signaled out by Councilmember Brown for her questionable social media posts and traffic incidents involving the police. Brown’s comments prompted the council to schedule a special item this week. He cited recent traffic stops involving Blair and at least one negative interaction with a Lemoore officer during one such stop.
It wasn’t just councilmembers upset with Blair. Members of the public, including Blair’s fellow Democrats who sit on the Kings County Democratic Central Committee (KCDCC), provided input. Blair currently serves as the KCDCC’s chair. One member, Connie Wlaschin, suggested that Blair often uses her position to “abuse, bully, intimidate … to secure her authority. She doesn’t respect anyone,” she said.
However, Blair’s supporters in the room, disagreed, insisting she was a good leader. KCDCC Vice President Deidrick Avila commended Blair, emphasizing that she was merely following her First Amendment rights to express herself.
Blair has become somewhat notorious for using social media, at times criticizing other councilmembers and the local press, sometimes repeating vulgar or colorful language. Even before Tuesday’s meeting, she posted a Facebook message criticizing the gathering’s purpose, suggesting the “good old’ boys” were attempting to intimidate her.
Another recent post she published contained lyrics from Pulitzer Prize-winning artist Kendrick Lamar, a message that did not sit well with some members.
Brown, visibly upset, began the discussion reading from a prepared statement lamenting the fact that what he was saying wasn’t easy. “My goal is to make council and the public aware of these communications to determine if censure by the council is warranted,” he stated.
Brown called out “implied” threats from Blair in which she suggests that the Lemoore Police Department is singling her out. “This isn’t an easy thing to do,” said Brown. “This conduct is unbecoming of a councilmember.”
Police have apparently stopped Blair for reportedly driving recklessly, and according to a text – reportedly between Blair and Lemoore Police Chief Darrel Smith – suggested that Lemoore “officers have too much time on their hands.” She also told Smith that she'd been stopped “six” times in two months.
Chief Smith told councilmembers that Blair’s account was not accurate. “I deal with facts,” he said. “Six times in two months is not factual.” He went on to say that Blair has been stopped three times in nine months, and his officers did not write her any tickets.
He said he holds his officers accountable for their actions, but he added: “I also clear them if they’re in the right.”
Brown said Blair should have gone directly to the city manager with her complaints. “If we have a personal issue with any department there are methods and procedures we must follow.”
He also said many of Blair’s Facebook comments had been forwarded his way, including nine additional contacts concerning negative comments made in recent Facebook posts. “I feel these comments are inappropriate and could place our city at risk,” said Brown. “We as councilmembers must check ourselves. We must show that we have the ability to fairly work with and for all Lemoore’s citizens, especially when we use the title of councilmember.”
Blair began the discussion speaking in an emotional tone and blamed interactions with the police as a child that may have soured her on law enforcement, making it difficult for her to talk to police. Apparently, about her interaction with Smith, she says she may have made a mistake. “When I addressed the issue, I thought I was talking to a friend. I don’t want this to turn into a political football,” she said.
Councilmember Jeff Chedester was equally disturbed by Blair’s conduct, particularly her use of social media. “What is expressed on Facebook or social media reflects on all of us,” he warned. “Personally, I don’t like that. They’re (posts) very inappropriate. When you post something like what you posted today, you put us down."
Mayor Madrigal cited the recently passed “Code of Conduct” which spells out how councilmembers should interact with each other and the public. “In general, it’s a pretty good document,” he said. “I’m not sure we should have this thing if we don’t do anything about it. We’re elected officials, so I think we’re held to a higher standard. We’re holding each other accountable.”
Madrigal has personally felt the brunt of many of Blair’s social media posts. “I’ve been on the end of Ms. Blair’s personal attacks many times,” he said. In one post, Blair referred to him as a misogynist. “Ms. Blair, what does that mean?” he asked, looking directly at her.
She declined to answer.
“It means someone who hates women,” continued the mayor. “I don’t (hate women).” Madrigal has two daughters, four sisters and an 88-year-old mother.
“You can say whatever you want, but not when you’re an elected official,” cautioned the mayor.
He read aloud lyrics by Rapper Kendrick Lamar that Blair recently posted. “I didn’t find that nice at all,” said Madrigal. “That’s on social media. We have to be careful about what we say.”
Her continued frequent posts – and behavior - prompted the mayor to consider asking Blair to resign. “I was going to ask her to step down.” Instead, he said that Blair might have “potential.”
“I love rap,” responded Blair. “It speaks to me. I post what inspires me. That’s how I feel,” attempting to explain her decision to post the excerpts.
Chedester chimed in: “The character that you present to the public is not responsible,” he said. “What you’re putting on social media is not acceptable. Stop posting on social media.”
While Brown insisted he would support censure, other councilmembers suggested instead that she merely acknowledge her mistakes and discontinue her divisive posts. “I want an acknowledgment that you will adhere to the code of conduct,” said Madrigal. “Some of the things you do can be very damaging to this city.”
Her comments and actions should probably be left to the voters, he said. Councilmember Eddie Neal and Chedester also asked for an acknowledgment of her behavior.
She didn’t respond.
Neal, who at the meeting late Tuesday night due to a family member’s illness, initially didn’t see the text message exchange between Chief Smith and Blair in which the Lemoore’s top cop disputed Blair’s version of her interactions with the Lemoore Police Department. On Wednesday, when he finally saw the texts, he suggested that the final decision about her fate will have to be determined by Lemoore’s voters.
