It will be nice when Joe Shogan no longer runs Spokane City Council meetings…..
Mike Fitzsimmons November 15, 2011 10:22 am
One Comment
It will be nice when Joe Shogan no longer runs Spokane City Council meetings…..
I’m Mike Fitzsimmons with commentary on 920-KXLY….
Outgoing Spokane City Council President Joe Shogan made a fool of himself often in the last four years. He frequently disrespected the people he swore to serve. He acted like an ultra-controlling child many times. Last Monday night when Shogan launched yet another of his inappropriate inane diatribes. This time four council members got up and walked out. They should have done that every time Shogan got on his high horse. They should have shown their displeasure similarly every time Shogan picked a fight with other council members and with the public.
Monday night Shogan departed yet again from the agenda of the City Council meeting to attack the head of the state Republican Party. Shogan, who often yaks about things about which he has little understanding, accused Peter Graves, the Executive Director of the state G.O.P of threatening the life of Mayor Mary Verner, when on November 3rd, Graves stated that Republicans wanted to “take Verner out” so that she would not set up a run for Congress against Fifth District Republican U.S. Representative Cathy McMorris Rodgers. Shogan insisted that this wasn’t a political reference but a threat of violence. Shogan charged that the language indicated a threat to a public official. He even included his colleagues as subject to the threat, which is a stunningly silly interpretation.
Councilman Steve Corker apologized to the crowd for Shogan’s commandeering of the council meeting to make his goofy comments, but in typical Shogan fashion the boorish Council President interrupted: “you can apologize for yourself, Mr. Corker. Don’t include me in your apology.” It’s only a matter of weeks before council meetings will take on a more acceptable decorum. Future council sessions will no longer run the risk of a pompous Joe Shogan side show. It will be like a breath of fresh air.
With commentary on 920 – KXLY, I’m Mike Fitzsimmons
Popularity: 2% [?]
Have you ever listened to the public forum, Mr. Fitzsimmons? These political officials have had to put up with the often incomprehensible statements of the general public FOR YEARS. You can talk about how council meetings for the new upcoming elected officials will change, but as long as the public forum remains, so will the inane rantings of the general public.
And regarding the threats of violence, thank you for not including all the facts. According to the Spokesman Review, in February 2009, Shogan had received multiple death threats by David Elton, who had also threatened to harm Betsy Cowles. Elton also dismissed them as “a joke,” and ended up in jail. Apparently the courts felt his words weren’t “silly interpretations,” as you put. I would justify these previous threats as a reason to suspect anyone else who uses the phrase “take [Verner] out” as viable, wouldn’t you agree? These are public figures, Mr. Fitzsimmons. Every word should be taken seriously.
Our civic leaders are people who serve the public, and have taken the initiative to fill an invaluable, noble role. If you ever feel the need to step up and run for public office, do us all a favor and show us how it’s done. Until then, please show some respect for those who perform a job that comes with a responsibility that may be more than you can fathom.
Sincerely,
Don Fisher