Favoritism shown at Fountain Hills council meetings

It is what it is. The past two council meetings have displayed the mayor's favoritism at its best.

On June 3, Mayor Friedel granted Councilperson Watts additional time during the “two minute councilperson activity reports" to respond to assertions by Councilperson Kalivianakis made in the Times Independent, referencing Watts’ statement about media coverage. Then, when Kalivianakis asked to respond back to Watts, Mayor Friedel was clear in not allowing a response; he disallowed it after a heated discussion. 

Friedel also admonished Councilwoman McMahon for her request to discuss the issue with the town attorney when she was not recognized. Friedel told her to wait until after the meeting. Friedel used the town attorney to stop further discussion only after Watts finished, not before. The attorney said the discussion was outside normal boundaries of the agenda item. Wow.

Round two, on June 17, saw Mayor Friedel try to silence Councilperson Kalivianakis when her difference of opinion on the quality of Attorney RFP responses was aired in response to Councilperson Skillicorn asserting his preferences. Again, Mayor Friedel admonished Kalivianakis during her comments with “are you about done?” 

So, it appears the mayor will not only manage the meeting agenda, but he will also manage the comments made by councilpersons. Some he likes. Others, he doesn't.

Since when does the Mayor have the power of censorship?

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