Amarillo’s mayor said one of the final five candidates for an open city council position, Sandra McCartt, should remove herself from consideration.
McCartt was accused of making disparaging remarks about the mayor and others in previous Facebook posts.
Mayor Paul Harpole said McCartt has basically disqualified herself from the position being vacated by Dr. Brian Eades.
During the debate over Amarillo’s proposed downtown Multi Purpose Event Venue (MPEV), McCartt was opposed, and criticized those who supported it.
In one post, McCartt said she was not interested in being on the city council.
“Oh no, there are some things I will do for 10 bucks a week but put up with all the crap from the dear public is not one of them.”
Another post referred to Amarillo.
“Just another day in JACK*** flats. It is fall in the Texas Panhandle and that is when we ship cattle to the yards.”
Mayor Harpole said this and other posts by McCartt are unacceptable for someone seeking a seat on the city council.
“I as an individual council member, just one, am asking that she withdraw her name,” Harpole said. “She said she would not do that, so at this point we’ll go further down the road.”
McCartt responded with a written statement.
“I won’t dignify this attempt to cast me in a foul light because I say on facebook or any other place what hundreds of people are thinking but are afraid to say because they are afraid of being attacked,” McCartt said.
She also said, “If anyone calls me a racist, a bigot, a homophobe or a xenophobe they will be met with a strong response. It will not be the same response I might write on a Facebook thread.”
Mccartt complained that incriminating posts were taken out of context.
The city council will interview each finalist and will vote on who replaces Dr. Eades during an August 2 meeting.
The replacement will be sworn-in on August 9.
(Information from MyHighPlains.com)