Burleson Star (Burleson, Tex.), Vol. 27, No. 55, Ed. 1 Monday, April 27, 1992 Page: 3 of 12
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Purleson Star, MgngSY. Apr» 27,199?-3A
Editorials, Opinions
Editorial
■S'
Councilmen lash out at police in what
appears to be ideal case of harassment
If the four countilmen on the recall portion of the May 2 election ballot
are so innocent, why are they trying so hard to quash any opposition?
No names were mentioned, but following the executive session of
council Thursday night, City Attorney Alan Taylor informed the council that
he is seeking a full investigation in regard to an advertisement printed in the
April 16 issue of the Burleson Star. The name on the ad was Ray Mattix,
president and spokesperson for Burleson Police Union Local #79.
Mattix is the strongest voice the city employees and police department
have because he’s not afraid to say what he thinks. With Mattix taking the vow
of silence until after the election, it looks as if the council has succeeded in
silencing the masses (for fear of reprisal). It's not hard to figure out what a-
felony arrest would do to Mattix' career.
The mayor and two other councilmen asked the city attorney to pursue
an investigation of third degree felony charges on Mattix for allegedly
violating the election code. Mattix is one target but the executive board of the
union could also be named. The "violation" was an open letter to the citizens
of Burleson. It was not a political endorsement. It did not say, "Vote Yes."
It simply said to vote. The newspaper requires that a disclaimer be attached
Letter to the Editor
Elect those not aligned
with power clique
Enough is enough!
To borrow a Une from the mo vie,
"Network," "I'm mad as hell and I'm
not going to take this anymore." The
character in the movie implored the
citizens of his town to scream this
line from their windows. Burleson
citizens, WAKE UP and smell the
roses, or in this case, the manure! Our
town is in big trouble. The citizens
must take matters into their own hands
and stop ignoring the illegal and un-
ethical acts of its officials.
Some of you are aware of the
recall petition on the May 2 ballot to
remove four city council members
from office. Many of you don't have
a clue as to what it is all about. Then
there are those of you who have been
misinformed by those who are to be
removed. .....
FACT: The petition to recall
these men came from citizens who
are fed up with the violations of our
city charter. It was signed by over
300 registered Burleson voters. Less
than S percent of these names are
employees of the city. This recall is
NOT an issue brought about by dis-
gruntled city employees. It is an issue
of obeying the city charter rules and
the laws of the State of Texas.
FACT: Last week in the April 16
issue of the Star, Ray Mattix placed
an ad to try and explain to the public
that this is not simply an issue involv-
ing city employees against the coun-
cil. As a result of his action he is un-
der harassment by a pending criminal
charge. If you read his letter, you will
know that he did not promote any
candidate or tell readers how to vote.
It was a letter of clarification of the
facts. Is this a criminal act?
FACT: The Burleson policeoffi-
cers on duty were called in and their
patrol cars searched because one of
these four men accused our law offi-
cers of stealing the red "Against Re-
call" signs. None was found. Would
you classify that as undue harass-
ment?
FACT: A Burleson business on
Renfro displayed blue signs "For
Recall” on his property one day and
the next day or so they were gone. He
said, "it wasn't good for business."
Then why did he put them up in the
first place? Could it be that he was
asked or told-to remove them? It is
ri r. t rt | If ♦ -
horrifying that in our little town we
cannot openly campaign or speak our
minds without fear of reprisal from
the opposition. These are just a few of
the dirty tricks that have been pulled.
Are we the citizens going to tolerate
such tactics?
Citizens, get mad! Say some-
thing! Do something! Get informed,
attend city council meetings, and ask
questions. We still have the right to
our freedom of speech and you are an
important part of this community.
Vote on May 2. Apathy is a deadly
poison that destroys our freedom.
Vote Yes on the recall election. Elect
candidates who are clearly not aligned
with the power clique.
—MARY ROPER
SHE’S "RACED" THE SPEEDWAY!
SHE’S SLID DOWN HILLS!
BUT ON HER BIRTHDAY,
"51" IS HOW SHE FEELS!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY,
DOROTHY HAMLIN!
(Hot-Rod Mama)
From: (Twit, Twittier, Twittiest,
& Pilot)
Vote For
Todd Pearson
Burleson City Council
Place 4
* • Experience • Education
j • Dedication • Integrity _
I #
T1 Pol. adv. pd. for by Martha Pearson, 100 Cliffside Or. N.. Burleson, 76028 u
******************************** *****1
Glenda's Bair Fashions
Welcomes!!
■%
Dean Tally-Hairstylist-30 yrs.-Exp.
And
Kandie Tally-Both Formerly with Regis
They Are Offering These Great
Get Aquainted Specials Thru. May "”~l
Perms Frost Men's Cuts
$30°° $25°° $9°°
20% off Sculptured Nails and Tips
Tue.-SaL 447-3912 • 323 N.W. Renfro.
to the bottom of any political advertisement Especially during a campaign
such as this year's, that disclaimer essentially protects the paper.
This isn't the first time the councilmen have gone after the police de-
partment in the last few months. Bob Douglas, a Burleson policeman of 28
years, was suspended fora day the week of April 12 and reportedly threatened
with termination by councilmen. The reason—a Vote Yes recall sign. The
captain was asked by another person to check with a business to see if they
would put up a recall sign. A few days later he was in the business on a coffee
break when he saw the property owners. He asked if they had been ap-
proached yet by the other person and they said no. He asked if the person could
put a Vote for Recall sign up. They said yes. After the sign was erected (not
by Douglas and not while he was on duty), the owner of the strip shopping
center received a phone call from an older women who threatened to boycott
the business. Thecaller asked whom theowner gave permission to for the sign
antHhe owner said Douglas. The captain was in uniform at the time.
Prior to Douglas' suspension, one of the four councilmen on recall re-
quested a search of all police units for "Vote Yes" recall signs. Police officers
on the streets were called in, one by one, and their cars were searched. No
signs were found.
Are you getting the picture yet? Before any of this occurred, the coun-
cilmen on recall complained to the acting city manager that when a citizen
asked about the recall election, a "city employee" advised the citizen to con-
tact Jerry Allen, treasurer of the Citizens For Recall committee. Allen is also
the husband of a city employee. The acting city manager requested that the
employees refer all questions about voting against or for the recall or voting
for a candidate in another race to the city manager's office during regular work
hours. Employees have been instructed not to talk about the recall at all while
at work.
Just a day after that incident that started the ball rolling, another memo
went out with another complaint from one of the recall councilmen. This time
it involved the possibility of an employee making political-related telephone
calls while on the job. Employees were warned that it was against the person-
nel policy.
And you wonder why some city employees may not be very friendly
these days? They are afraid to talk to anyone because they never know who
it's going back to and if they’ll be next on the suspension, chopping, or felony
block. These councilmen are angry and they are reaching for straws to get
revenge on those who brought the recall about Is that the Ipnd of person you
want running your city government? Think about it
—SALLY ELLERTSON
A v /•••/•••/•// *.v• • •••'<•'•
Political letters to the editor will
not be accepted for April 30 issue
Letters to the editor concerning candidates for office for the
May 2 election will not be accepted for publication in the April 30
issue of the Burleson Star. Since the April 30 issue is the last one
before May 1 election day, printing letters on that issue would not
give the opposition a chance to rebut what is printed.
The Star retains the right to publish editorials up to and
including April 30.
Letter to the Editor
We should be able to say
view without harassment
Letter to the editor policy
The Burleson Star welcomes letters to the editor on subjects of
interest to its readers, There is no length restriction on letters,
although shorter ones have a better chance of being printed first
due to the space requirement.
Letters to the editor are printed as space isavailable. Getting
a letter in by the deadline does not ensure that it will be in the next
issue. All letters must bear the handwritten signature of the writer
and include the address and phone dumber (daytime phone num-
ber please) for verification purposes (address and phone number
must be signed, Unsigned letters are never printed.
The letters do not necessarily reflect the editorial policies or
beliefs of the Burleson Star, The Burleson St«r prints on Monday'
and Thursday. Monday deadlines are Thursday at 5 p.m. and
Thursday deadlines are Tuesday ajjSpjm. -V •
As a concerned citizen of Burle-
son, I felt it my obligation to do what
I could to help put my city on the road
to recovery. The illegal actions per-
formed by the four councilmen were
spelled out in the Burleson Star on
March 5,1992. Mayor Calvin, in the
March 3 council meeting, even eluded
to the wrongdoings outlined by James
Moody when she said, "It's time that
this council puts aside their personal
differences and all work together
toward a common goal according to
.the law and charter."
Mayor Calvin surely knew prior
to Moody's editorial that both the law
and charter had been violated even
though she might not have been a
participant. She also said, "There
should be no personal or secret agen-
das and staff should be given support
and encouragement to abide by the
law and follow the charter."
This started the wheels rolling.
These council members have placed
themselves above the law, trying to
take total control of our city, forcing
highly competent employees to re-
sign, putting undue stress on city em-
ployees, and seemingly total discen-
sion among the "ranks." The city must
function, as in any business, with
efficiency, competency, and must
adhere to all rules and regulations.
When the four city councilmen
proceeded to force our city attorney,
city engineer, and our city manager
to resign, not only did we lose highly
competent city employees, thecity of
Burleson was also burdened with an
excess of $30,000 unbudgeted ex-
penditures. There were also several
other key employees who left Burle-
son . The question that remains—how
can Burleson afford to allow city
councilmen to remain uf office that
continually break the law? The Feb.
27,1992, meeting held by the coun-
cilmen was an illegal "closed" meet-
ing.
"Citizens for the Recall Com-
mittee" collected 350 names in only
six days. Had we taken the full 30
days allowed, I am confident many
more names would have been col-
lected. It should hold no ground as to
the relationship of the persons sign-
ing the petitions to the city employ-
ees. Every United States citizen has
the freedom of choice and the right to
vote as he sees fit.
We must put a stop to the "spe-
cial interest" politics before certain
parties begin "reaping the rewards"
in lump sums. Changing ordinances
and policies to accomodate a select
few is illegal and unethical.
Citizens of Burleson, wake up!
The city employees are intimidated
and harassed. Most even fear losing
their jobs if they say the wrong thing
to the wrong person. This is not right.
What happened to the freedom of
speech that every citizen is entitled
to? Laws are to be upheld, rules are
not made to be broken, and each and
every person is entitled to feel com-
fortable in their daily lives to be able
to have their own point of view with-
out harassment.
Go to the polls and vote "yes” for
recall. Let's get officials that will up-
hold the law as it was meant to be and
bring honest, forthright government
to all.
—BOB HOLLAND
Elect
VERA CALVIN
MAYOR
May 2, 1992
Pol. Ad. Paid by Sharon Wright. Trees , 226 Smith, Burleson 76028
pilllllllllll
rv
ELECT
IRICK POPER
FOR
MAYOR
. Burleson Resident-20 years
. Electrical Contractor -17 years
. City Councilmember -’79—’87
. Active Member of Crestmont
Baptist Church-17 years
. Served as Chairperson and member
of city Electrical Board
. Member of Board of Directors of
BYA during formative years
"As YOUR elected MAYOR I WILL:
Be a strong leader, Uphold the rules of
City Charter, Represent ALL citizens,
businesses, and city employees equally,
fairly, and with respect."
/
LOOK TO THE FUTURE FOR A
BETTER BURLESON
MdW.Ukjmfc^.ul Po*0»k.Burt moo,T,.7C02I
Public Hearings for
Staggering Beginning Schedules
for Burleson I.S.D.
for the 1992-93 School Year
Public hearings are scheduled for the patrons of the
Burleson School District to meet and provide com-
ments about staggering the beginning schedules at
the elementary and secondary schools beginning
with the 1992-93 school year. Staggering starts offer
an opportunity for improved utilization of the school
bus fleet and increase efficiency. An example of a
staggered start for a school day could have secondary
students beginning 50 minutes earlier than elemen-
tary students, (example-secondary schools begin at
7:30 a.m. and elementary schools would begin at
8:20 a.m.). This would allow us to use fewer buses.
Public hearing dates are:
April 30,1992
Burleson Junior High
Cafeteria
7:30 p.m.
May 7,1992
Frazier Elementary
Cafeteria
7:30 p.m.
Each person will be allowed five minutes to com-
ment. All comments and recommendations need to
De put in writing and submitted to the chairperson.
4is
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Ellertson, Sally. Burleson Star (Burleson, Tex.), Vol. 27, No. 55, Ed. 1 Monday, April 27, 1992, newspaper, April 27, 1992; Burleson, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth763065/m1/3/?q=Lamar+University: accessed July 2, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Burleson Public Library.