By Hanna Stock
Rising worries from citizens and council members in Bellevue over an upcoming vote that some say could give the mayor’s office too much power. The proposal would allow the elected officials to be removed from office without a recall.
The City of Bellevue would move from a democracy to a “dictatorship” if the City Council approves proposals that creates consequences for misconduct and leaking, council member Pat Shannon wrote in a letter this week.
Council member Shannon criticizes the proposals that could result in elected officials to be removed from office if that person violates the proposed ordinances.
“Basically, the city administration would take over the city council if this ordinance goes through,” Shannon said. “This is a recipe for a dictatorship.”
The proposals address two issues: misconduct, which covers a wide range of decorum including sexually inappropriate or derogatory comments; and sharing information from closed sessions that aren’t open to the public.
“Our goal is not to get someone removed from office it’s just to modify or correct a behavior.” Jim Ristow, City Administrator of Bellevue said.
“The citizens lose their representation, their vote and any pretense of oversight of the city,” Shannon wrote in his letter. “This is not the American way of governance.”
Shannon’s letter was written in response to another letter sent to the city by Media of Nebraska, a nonprofit organization focused on supporting watchdog journalism. This letter also opposes the proposals.
“It is our opinion that adding language that provides harsh penalties, including removal from office, for violating these arbitrary rules of conduct does not serve the interests of the citizens of Bellevue,” Media of Nebraska’s letter said. “These proposals would have a chilling effect on the release of information to which the citizens are entitled.”
The public will have the chance to comment on the matter during a hearing at Bellevue’s next City Council meeting, which begins at 6 p.m. Tuesday at 1500 Wall Street.
