Council replaces Siegel with Lois Wynne; Rodarmel vice mayor

Councilmember Eddie Neal asked that councilmembers consider removing Siegel after a series of emails led Neal to believe that perhaps the mayor was a “liability” to the city. “Many community members have been hurt and disappointed by the bullying and harassment of the mayor over the past year,” said Neal.

Neal told The Leader recently that in a series of emails and texts from Siegel, the mayor had questioned his abilities to fully comprehend issues during city council meetings. One of the emails from Siegel, sent to all councilmembers, was particularly disturbing for Neal: “I think someone is using Councilman Neal’s email address and wasting our city manager’s time,” stated Siegel’s email. “This is just my opinion but it seems as if the person writing these emails has a far more advanced use of the English language than Mr. Neal normally uses while speaking.”

Initially councilmembers voted 4-1 to reorganize. Siegel’s was the only no vote. Neal nominated Mayor Pro Tem Lois Wynne to take over the mayor’s job and councilmembers voted 4-0 to accept the nomination. Siegel abstained.

Councilmember Ray Madrigal then nominated Willard Rodarmel as Mayor Pro Tem and that vote too was 4-0. The Lemoore City Clerk quickly changed the nameplates and the new mayor took her position in the mayor’s seat.

Neal told The Leader that for the council to do nothing would have been wrong. “I didn’t put this on the community,” he said. “I put it on the council. We are a council and we are all one. Are we saying this behavior was okay? Did we just want to look away? We are accountable for him sitting in this seat. I wanted him removed tonight.”

Obviously councilmembers agreed with Neal, replacing Siegel with first-term councilmember Wynne, a move that pleased Neal. “I think that was a good move,” he said. “I think Lois stands for something. She’ll do a good job. She served as a teacher and a principal. She has a good background. Willard has been a mayor. He has experience. It’s like we pushed a reset button. It’s a new beginning today.”

Newcomer Madrigal agreed with Neal’s motives and said the public had a lot to do with his decision to change mayors. “This is a very uncomfortable situation,” he said. “I have heard a lot of things that are distractions to us. I’ve been knocking on doors too and been hearing from a lot of people.”

In words directed at Siegel, Madrigal was pointed: “It is embarrassing some of the things I’ve seen and heard. I have to say that with all due respect Mayor Siegel, I don’t think that that’s what this council is all about.”

Based on Siegel’s actions and the public’s concern, Madrigal said something had to give. “I think we’re bringing a negative light on us. Maybe it’s time for a change. I honestly think we need to make a statement about what’s acceptable.”

Reflecting on his decision later, the newest member of the council stood by his decision. “It wasn’t something that I took lightly,” he said. “It was a difficult decision to make, but we have to hold ourselves accountable for our behavior. His behavior (Siegel’s) was a distraction to the city.”

Rodarmel, who has served as mayor, was circumspect about Tuesday's vote. "When I voted, it was with a heavy heart," he said, citing the fact that a Lemoore mayor had never been voted out of his seat. He said the crowd was definitely one-sided, most wanting to see Siegel depart. "I listened to everybody. It probably helped," he said of the crowd's comments. And he agreed that perhaps Siegel's antics had become somewhat of a distraction. "It certainly didn't put Lemoore in a good limelight."