An angry March 5 Thompson School District Board of Education meeting that erupted over the question of public comment ended in catcalls, applause, and plentiful use of the chair’s gavel as revealed in video of the meeting. The Loveland Reporter-Herald’s education reporter, Alex Burness, provides background on the brouhaha:
Buried Wednesday within the latest school board dispute was a small but significant action by board member Carl Langner, who singlehandedly restored order from President Bob Kerrigan’s move to cancel the night’s agenda altogether.
In the heat of another tense argument over how much public comment is appropriate at Thompson School District Board of Education meetings, Kerrigan cut off an incensed Denise Montagu, who, with the help of minority allies Lori Hvizda Ward and Pam Howard, had taken another stab at allowing audience members to speak to the board.
“We’re going to do the work,” to revise the public comment policy, Kerrigan said. “We’re going to bring it back next week. We really need to move forward.”
Montagu continued talking and was met by the slam of Kerrigan’s gavel, and a request from the president for a motion to adjourn the meeting, even though a two-hour presentation from the district’s Master Plan Committee had not yet started.
The dispute continued on for several tense minutes, with both sides exchanging words.
Kerrigan repeatedly gaveled down Montagu, who insisted on her right to speak during the meeting.
Montagu told Kerrigan and others in attendance, “Oh I’m not stopping, I’m not stopping …I can have 30 minutes at any meeting to discuss whatever topic I choose to discuss.
“I am allowed to do that,” she continued.
Neither Kerrigan nor Montagu offered comment to Burness following the meeting.
Montagu, in an email obtained by Loveland Politics, had earlier this year encouraged supporter to stack a BOE meeting in order to precipitate a “public relations nightmare” for the “reformers” on the board:
“If you read this morning’s Reporter Herald, you might have the impression that the entire board of education is now joining hands and singing Kumbaya. Let me assure you, nothing could be further from the truth. The reformers are going to a great deal of effort to give the community the impression that they are becoming reasonable and transparent so that you all back down. The large crowd at the December 18 meeting made them extremely uncomfortable, and they want to avoid a repeat performance, particularly since THEY HAVE SOMETHING UP THEIR SLEEVES FOR THIS WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 15.
…
If this isn’t bad enough, someone (likely Kerrigan; he slipped a reference to himself the other night when informing us of this) reported the December 18 meeting to the fire marshal, and we will be prevented from filling the board room. It’s been suggested that we move the meeting to a larger venue to allow all interested community members to participate, but the reformers won’t allow it. Ms. Rice has stated that she will not support large numbers of attendees, citing a loss of decorum at the December 18 meeting; This does not mean don’t come; it means exactly the opposite. This will be a public relations nightmare for the champions of transparency if they are found to be deliberately keeping members of the public from participating. Come one, come all, and come early.”
Thompson BOE meets for first time since disruption, arguments over public comment
An angry March 5 Thompson School District Board of Education meeting that erupted over the question of public comment ended in catcalls, applause, and plentiful use of the chair’s gavel as revealed in video of the meeting. The Loveland Reporter-Herald’s education reporter, Alex Burness, provides background on the brouhaha:
The dispute continued on for several tense minutes, with both sides exchanging words.
Kerrigan repeatedly gaveled down Montagu, who insisted on her right to speak during the meeting.
Montagu told Kerrigan and others in attendance, “Oh I’m not stopping, I’m not stopping …I can have 30 minutes at any meeting to discuss whatever topic I choose to discuss.
“I am allowed to do that,” she continued.
Neither Kerrigan nor Montagu offered comment to Burness following the meeting.
Montagu, in an email obtained by Loveland Politics, had earlier this year encouraged supporter to stack a BOE meeting in order to precipitate a “public relations nightmare” for the “reformers” on the board:
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Legislators from both sides of the aisle fleeing the gold dome
By Jon Caldara
I remember asking a Denver cop how the morale was among his peers. His answer, “Well, let me put it this way. Yesterday, I arrested a guy for stealing four cars. Two hours later, I arrested the very same guy for stealing a car again.” Criminals who are issued the equivalent of a parking ticket and kicked out of jail in mere minutes after their major felonies must be a greater demotivator for cops than a doughnut ban.
How can you keep doing your job when your work is rigged so, no matter how hard you endeavor, it doesn’t really make any difference? Imagine being in charge of recruiting police officers in large metro cities today.
The same sense of making no real difference, of complete irrelevance, is infecting the ranks of Colorado Republican legislators. It’s so bad, two of the best have decided to quit their jobs, pull up stakes, and get the hell out of Dodge.
Senate Majority Leader Paul Lundeen was perhaps the most sane, articulate, politically savvy and principled Republican under the Gold Dome. In any other state he’d be looking to run for governor. But this isn’t any other state, so, instead, he’s looking to run away.
This is the hyper-progressive state of Colorado. Being in the micro-minority year after year after year and watching freedom-limiting, economy-killing, social engineering bills becoming law, well, it has got to be like the cop watching everyone he arrests back out on the street moments after being caught
Honestly, how do you get up in the morning?
Lundeen is fleeing to take a job with the American Excellence Foundation to spread the word of limited government to states that might listen.
So that Paul doesn’t feel alone in his escape from the asylum — I’m sorry, the “unsupervised mental health facility” — the equally sane House Minority Whip Ryan Armagost is bolting out of the state for an undisclosed “fantastic professional opportunity” in Arizona
Rumor has it he landed a more enjoyable and respected job there like telemarketer, pig slaughterer, crack whore or even assistant crack whore.
Is there a more lonely and frankly useless job in Colorado, outside of Rockies general manager, than being a Republican state legislator, shooting rubber bands at bad ideas?
Frankly, those who stay and fight, I’m looking at you, Rose Pugliese, are amazingly optimistic and resilient people who deserve at least a commercial by Sarah McLachlan. “Hi, I’m Sarah McLachlan. Will you be an angel for a helpless legislator? Everyday, innocent Republican legislators are abused, beaten and neglected. And they’re crying out for help. For just $5 million a month, you can rescue these legislators from their abusers.”
But it’s not just abused Republicans who can no longer take it. The growing civil war between Democrats is beginning to take its toll.
Remember that scene from “Gone with the Wind” with the acres of wounded laying around the train station? In Colorado, the merely-progressive Democrats of the North are attacked by the socialist Democrats of the South with similar results.
Recall, Democrats have near veto-proof majorities in both houses, all statewide offices, including governor and attorney general, and judges almost completely appointed by progressive Democrat governors. Like your sibling whom your parents love more than you, Democrats get whatever they want.
Your wallet is their oyster. Resigning in 2023, Democratic Rep. Ruby Dickson said the “sensationalistic and vitriolic nature of the current political environment is not healthy for me or my family.”
Democratic Rep. Said Sharbini left, citing “the polarized and contentious climate in the state House.” Sen. Sonya Jaquez Lewis said the job was emotionally and physically tough when she recently split.
But these spoiled kids can have anything they want. They’re not squabbling with Republicans. Republicans aren’t even in the equation. Republicans are hiding in the janitor’s closet hoping not to be found and slapped around. These Democrats are backbiting fellow Democrats.
The “sensationalistic and vitriolic” unhealthy environment is amongst themselves. The polarization and emotional toll isn’t coming from the feckless Republicans.
Team Left is beginning to eat their own.
More than 20% of our legislators were never voted into office in the first place. They were appointed to fill vacancies of those who wanted to get out.
Though this calls for reform of how vacancies are filled, the bigger question is, what are the Democrats doing to make the place so unlivable?
Colorado has a long history with nuclear energy… some of it good and some of it not so good. PowerGab Hosts Jake Fogleman and Amy Cooke have a conversation with US Navy Nuclear Propulsion Veteran Nathan Stout about that history and how it impacts energy policy today.
Show Notes:
https://i2i.org/a-critical-look-at-nuclear-energy-in-colorado-overcoming-our-past-to-secure-our-future/
I mean, come on, who hasn’t wanted to kick Jeff Hunt right up the backside?
I mean, isn’t that what that social conservative and 710 KNUS talk show host deserves? Well, that’s exactly what he got for attending a mostly peaceful anti Trump rally. Just a little assault.