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June 24 2004
North Richland Hills political
activist files complaint against City Attorney for alleged
violation of Open Meetings Act Suzette
Christopher, a 2004 candidate for mayor, announced today she has
filed an official complaint with the Tarrant County District
Attorney office concerning the actions of City Attorney George
Staples during the May 24, 2004 city council meeting.
Christopher challenged Mayor Oscar Trevino in the May 15, 2004
election and received 2,160 votes against 2,349 for Trevino.
Christopher first discussed the actions of Staples in her LNO
column dated May 31, 2004, Click
Here. Her column elicited a response column from LNO
citizen reporter Ken Sapp, Click
Here.
Christopher outlined her accusations in a letter to assistant DA
Ann Diamond. Her letter is posted below:
Ms. Ann Diamond
Chief of Civil Litigation
District Attorney’s Office Tarrant County
401 W. Belknap
Fort Worth, TX 76102
Ms. Diamond,
Thank you for taking the time to speak with me by phone. I am following up with this letter as my formal complaint.
My name is Suzette Christopher, a citizen of North Richland Hills, Texas.
I am filing a formal complaint with the District Attorney’s Office as I feel a violation of the Open Meeting Act occurred based on:
The Texas Open Meetings Act states that a government body that opens its meetings to public comment "may not unfairly discriminate among speakers for or against a particular point of view."
This violation occurred during the City Council Meeting on May 24, 2004. I have included video tape as evidence.
The complaint is against North Richland Hills City Attorney Staples. Attorney Staples shut down and publicly ridiculed a citizen attempting to give a citizen presentation during citizen presentation time. The citizen involved is Ron West. At the beginning of the presentation (as you will see on the video) the following takes place:
Ron West: "My name is Ron West," gave his physical address "The subject tonight is a request for public disclosure by the NRH City Council regarding city-owned real estate and promises made to Arcadia ..."
Councilman Whitson: “Excuse me, Mr. West. Mr. Mayor, excuse me. Point of order“
City Attorney Staples: “The public disclosures need to be addressed to the city secretary. The City Council is not in the business of delivering disclosures about public information. That is beyond their jurisdiction."
Ron West: “OK, then change it to where you don't disclose it and let me just tell you what we're interested in knowing.”
Again, West tried to read his written statement:
Ron West: "It has come to our attention that the city of North Richland Hills has entered into an agreement to purchase the old Food Lion building located at Rufe Snow and Glenview Drive. This has been done without input from the voters of North Richland Hills ..."
City Attorney Staples: "Let me repeat here what we're talking about. This is beyond the jurisdiction of this council here. If you want that information you need to request it with a public information request of which you have been able to make two or three a week anyway. You know how to do this. This is not within their jurisdiction."
Ron West: "Excuse me for asking"
Since Mr. West was shut down he gathered his papers and returned to his seat.
The remarks made by City Attorney Staples about Mr. West “request it with a public information request of which you have been able to make two or three a week anyway” is false, a personal attack, and made with sarcastic tones (as evidenced by the tape). Mr. Staples statement in public, during citizen presentation time, to Mr. West is discriminatory as it is an unfair treatment of a person based on prejudice.
I questioned Mr. Staples about this after the Council meeting to which he replied “the presenter and I have a history, we go way back. He was going to make a political statement.“
I am willing to provide testimony and/or an affidavit.
You do not need to return the video tape. I will be happy to answer any questions you may have. I would appreciate notification from your office as to the status of this complaint.
Thank you,
Suzette Christopher |
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