By Renee Christensen, Hamilton
Let’s all take a moment and acknowledge the elephant in the room – there is a movement afoot in our community to bring Jim Crews back as Mayor.
A quick recap of recent events, to help piece it together for folks:
May 14, 2016 – Following Paul Ludington’s resignation, Stacie Barker, Robin Holcomb, and Bob Michalson selected Jim Crews to serve as Mayor.
November 7, 2017 – Jim Crews lost the mayoral race to Brandon Dewey.
November 1, 2018 – Following Ray Smith’s resignation from Council, Robin Holcomb and Stacie Barker interviewed Jim Crews, Jerry Phillips, and Annemarie McCormack. Council President Bob Michalson recused himself from the Council’s process of appointing a replacement, stating that it might be seen as a conflict of interest since one of the applicants, Jim Crews, is a close friend of his.
November 8, 2018 – Robin Holcomb and Stacie Barker initially moved and seconded to appoint applicant Jim Crews to the Council. Following public comment opposing this decision, they voted against their own motion and voted to appoint Jerry Phillips.
May 23, 2019 – Following Jerry Phillips’ resignation five months later (after receiving threats from community members), Bob Michalson, Robin Holcomb, and Stacie Barker met to decide which candidates to interview (Note Bob Michaelson did NOT recuse himself). After the council is (AGAIN) urged during public comment to not select Jim Crews, Jim withdrew his application. With one candidate remaining (Dempsey Vick), Bob Michalson, Robin Holcomb, and Stacie Barker chose not to select Vick.
June 13, 2019 – Bob Michalson made a motion to suspend council rules and appoint a candidate to fill the open Ward 2 seat and subsequently moved to appoint Jim Crews. The motion was seconded by Council member Stacie Barker and passed unanimously by Bob Michalson, Stacie Barker, and Robin Holcomb. (NOTE: Once again, Bob Michalson not only didn’t recuse himself, but actually MADE THE MOTION!)
July 16, 2019 – Jim Crews resigned from the Council.
Now our community is facing a recall election and two of the three previous council members are still presiding. If the recall is successful, who do you think Bob and Robin will try to appoint?
I’ll say it louder for the people in the back of the room – in a span of less than two months, Bob and Robin demonstrated a preference, against the stated wishes of the public, for someone who WITHDREW his nomination, was VOTED BACK IN, and subsequently RESIGNED.
Patrick Henry says
Dump Dewey 2020
Leanna Rodabaugh says
You need to look elsewhere for your conspiracy theories. If you only realized how ridiculous you sound. Jim is married with a lovely caring wife. Their marriage works because they respect each other. Together, they have decided that further political responsibilities are cancelled. Jim may sttend or comment during future town meetings but his involvement is limited to that. Your paranoia seems limitless and you embarrass yourself by engaging in such fantasies.
Jim Crews says
Sue Devlin, I choose to withdrew if you will remember, because of all the hate you people express.
Jim Crews says
Wow. Are you living in a strange place.
I have no desire to be the Mayor of Stevensville, now or in the future. It will take years to find out all the things the current mayor has done and fix any errors.
I resigned from council because I have strong moral values and ethics, and cannot tolerate working with people who do not value the truth and abeyance of rules. The current mayor is not the kind of person who I would associate myself.
Get your facts straight. You do not know me, but you are the first to have attacked me at the orchestrated meet and great. You failed.
Sue Devlin says
No Jim Crews – she did not fail – you were not chosen to sit on the council after that meet and greet