Jason Sandford
Jason Sandford is a reporter, writer, blogger and photographer interested in all things Asheville.
Ashvegas City Council has been steaming right along since last November’s elections.
We’ve heard a lot out of Councilman Carl Mumpower, who has taken former Councilman Brian Peterson’s position as the resident rabblerouser and camera hog. We’ve heard a lot out of Mayor Terry Bellamy, who’s never met a press conference she didn’t like.
And now we’re starting to hear more out of Councilman Bryan Freeborn, aka Freebie, who is beginning to cement a reputation as a petulant whiner.
Former Mayor Leni Sitnick took Freebie to task in a Citizen-Times letter to the editor a few weeks back for making unpolite remarks. Freebie got heated up again during this week’s Ashvegas City Council meeting. Freebie had been working on some committee appointments and got his panties in a wad when other council members disagreed with him. Here’s some of what gadfly Walter Plaue had to say about it all in the pages of the Mountain Guardian.
To which Mr Freeborn became “unglued” and did a reasonably good imitation of Howard Dean’s “Scream Speech” and again, leaning in toward the Mayors’ face, insisted that he had to have the results of the vote “tomorrow”. Showing considerable patience, the Mayor decided it was time for a Recess, to “cool things off”. As soon as she banged the gavel for Recess, Mr. Freeborn rushed off the dais, through the exit door behind the dais, and slammed it behind him. A grosser display of petulance and immaturity I have never seen in that Chamber. When the council reconvened, the Mayor, in a calm and controlled voice stated – for everybody to hear – that she could count to four and thus had no choice but to allow the “midnight hour” motion to be made and passed.
You can watch a video clip of the Freebie-Bellamy exchange here.
Plaue’s description of a “scream” is a bit much in characterizing Freeborn’s attitude. But Freeborn clearly was acting like a baby over some stupid committee appointments.
Freeborn needs to grow up and learn how to work in a group, a group full of politicians. You’re not some freewheeling hippie who can get up a group, paint a city street in protest and have fun, Freebie. You’re one of seven people who all have a vote. Learn to deal with it, and deal with dignity.
Perhaps if the local media had upheld its responsibility, had done some research and had given its readers a complete picture of Mr. Freeborn prior to the election (re: his unpaid fines for street painting, etc.that were not reported), the city would not be hamstrung with his type of representation. You have to admit, though, that Asheville City Council is representative of the growing Granola culture in our city – nuts, fruits and flakes.
– Bulldog
Here is a better video. The sound is better and it plays until Freeborn slams the chamber door.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U_QlAFV3yc4
I hate it when I actually vote for people who then make asses of themselves. It’s too bad. Freebie has potential.
It’s like watching little Billy in very first bike race. His helmet’s too big, and Daddy just took off the training wheels the day before the big race. Everyone knows that it’s going to end ignominiously for little Billy, and we watch with piteous looks, tsking, sighing, hoping that he doesn’t hurt himself or anyone else too severely…
Wow…glad to see this goes on in other places besides Hooterville. Two of our county commissioners got into it a few months ago which resulted in one telling the other to "bring it on, big boy". I heard it was the highest rated meeting ever on cable.