By Stevensville Mayor Brandon Dewey
Stevensville Friends and Neighbors,
In the coming weeks ballots for the general election will be made available and you will see a ballot issue to recall me, your Mayor, Brandon Dewey. The recall was placed on the ballot by a small committee of individuals including Stevensville residents, Leanna Rodabaugh, Jim Crews, Bob Michalson, Jim and Leslie Tadvick, Mark Adams, Dawn Geiger, Stacie Barker and others who were not happy when I won the election in 2017 beating their friend and former Mayor, Jim Crews.
In the Spring of 2018, after I took office as Stevensville’s new Mayor, Stevensville Council member Bob Michalson declared in an email to Council member Robin Holcomb that they would make my life miserable until I resigned. True to their word, they have made not only my life extremely miserable, but those of the Town’s staff, and numerous other citizens, too. Because of their actions and hostility towards me, my office and staff, three Town Clerks have resigned as well as a Finance Officer. This situation also forced an early retirement on a long-time office staff member. However, despite their commitment to force my resignation, I have withstood attack after attack lobbied against me by Bob Michalson, Jim Crews, Leanna Rodabaugh and their circle of friends.
After nearly three years of failed attempts, they have taken their destructive agenda one step further and have placed a recall initiative on the November 2020 ballot. The recall asks all registered voters within the town to decide if I should continue my term as Stevensville’s Mayor or recall me from this office. My future is in your hands. The future of our Town is in your hands.
In the 2017 election, after over a decade of my proven service to Stevensville in many other ways, I made a commitment to continue serving Stevensville to the best of my abilities, move our town forward in a positive direction, and provide a solid economic foundation in which to conduct Town business. I have lived up to this commitment and with guidance and assistance from a talented staff, Town Attorney, and many dedicated citizens, we have done all of this and much more.
While my time in office has been rewarding, it has been a roller coaster of ups and downs. I have made a few mistakes along the way, but my intentions were, and always will be, pure and in our community’s best interest.
You will hear my opponents claim that I have broken laws and that Ravalli County District Court Judge Recht has ruled me guilty of the accusations presented. However, before you consider their claims, I am asking that you seek the other side of this situation and hear what I have to say. I did secure Information Technology (IT) professional services and I did so in accordance with my understanding of the law, the Town’s policies, and the advice of the Town’s attorney. I did not act in malice nor did I try to circumvent any processes or policies. The Town’s attorney, and the attorneys in several neighboring communities, disagree with Judge Recht’s opinion. And please, please remember that it is simply an opinion, not a conviction as Ms. Rodabaugh, Mr. Crews and Mr. Michalson desperately want you to believe.
I have one more year left on my term to serve you and this wonderful community. I am not a quitter, and while quitting is a much easier and less expensive direction for me, I cannot and will not be intimidated into resigning. I am asking each of you to learn the facts and weigh your decisions carefully as you cast your vote in November. If there is information you need from me to make an informed decision, know that I am available and willing to have that conversation with you. I am proud to be your Mayor and look forward to continuing my service for the betterment of our beautiful, caring community.
Angela says
Regardless of the emotional comments, the bottom line is that the mayor broke the law. Ravalli County Judge Recht made it VERY clear by ruling that the recall would go forward. If no laws had been broken, then the recall would be ancient history.
Check out this video for all the details of Judge Recht’s ruling: https://youtu.be/ZQbnPEHh69o
Dewey wants everyone to think he just made an error without any bad intent, but given that he HID the contract from the Town Council and the Public for 3 months and then tried to cover his butt with a hilarious defense by Town Attorney Owens who knows that to disagree with Dewey is to lose your job – said: “in his opinion the mayor did not violate any laws. “He came close,” said Owens. “He came right up to the limit. But in my opinion, he did not cross the line.” Obviously the JUDGE disagreed. (https://bitterrootstar.com/2020/04/petition-circulating-to-recall-stevensville-mayor/)
Sharon Gee says
Quotes from Jim Crews’ response:
“Dewey, you are obviously out of your mind. Elected officials do not attack private citizens.”
“You are going to get what you deserve.”
“By the way, go pick up your apples, stop littering the sidewalks and street and stop wasting food.”
Quotes from Leanna’s response:
“ Take the mayor’s defense and understand this is a rodent backed into a corner. He is lying. He is a pathetic child blaming everyone but himself. ”
“perhaps he could have wiggled out of his deception. But he has taken a different route, blaming the good people of this community.”
“He is shameless in his grasping at straws to remain in his position.”
It just so happens that the people quoted above who have once again posted negative hurtful comments aimed at Brandon are also named in his letter as those who have consistently done everything they can to make his life miserable.
Sounds like sour grapes to me.
Leanna Rodabaugh says
No sour grapes just wishing for honesty and transparency.
Leanna Rodabaugh says
I was complaining to Charley, our attorney, about Dewey’s inane remarks about Judge Recht’s decision and ruling being just an opinion. Charley sent me this:
“It is emphatically the province and duty of the judicial department to say what the law is.
Chief Justice John Marshall
Judge Recht says Dewey broke the law. There is NO gray area. And our attorney did not sign off on the contract BEFORE Dewey signed it. Mr. Owens did not know of it or approve it until it became an issue.
As a legal issue, the ruling is stark in it’s decision. Laws were broken by our mayor and no matter how you parse the words, Dewey is guilty of the charges against him.
Take the mayor’s defense and understand this is a rodent backed into a corner. He is lying. He is a pathetic child blaming everyone but himself. If he had been a man and owned up to his mistakes, perhaps he could have wiggled out of his deception. But he has taken a different route, blaming the good people of this community. He dismisses the Judge. He attacks the council president. He tries to deflect from his wrongs and natters on about others. He is shameless in his grasping at straws to remain in his position.
The LAW is important. Laws keep society from running amok. The law is a bright, shining beacon, showing us right from wrong. And when you disregard the law there are consequences.
VOTE FOR THE RECALL
Sharon Gee says
Quote from your response above:
“ Take the mayor’s defense and understand this is a rodent backed into a corner. He is lying. He is a pathetic child blaming everyone but himself. ”
Statements like this only strengthen what the Mayor stated in his letter and it cannot possibly help ease your own legal woes.
Brandon is not the one who brought charges against our council president and the charges against Bob are verifiable.
Mark Harris says
Christa Wortman, your comment brings clarity and reason to an emotional issue. Thanks very much. I think you have separated the wheat from the chaff in your response.
Christa Wortman says
I just would like to make one thing clear, and both sides please correct me if I’m incorrect in my recollection of the facts. Short story…our Mayor hired an IT firm believing he had the authority to do that. At a subsequent meeting the Council said they wanted to be the final decision maker. So the job was reposted as required by law. If my recollection is true, the only bid was from the company the MAyor had previously hired, and it was for the same amount of money. The Council then approved that contract for services. Now a recall is filed by a very aggressive, angry person stating the Mayor broke the law by doing EXACTLY what the Council ended up doing. So if trouble causing is NOT the point, what exactly is? Could it have been a mistake? And was the Town harmed? Because the Town ended up doing the EXACT same thing. I guess I’m just not understanding the venom?
Susan Devlin says
Excellent commentary Christa. Thank you for putting it together in a nutshell. Concise, factual, TRUTH
Sharon Gee says
Thank you Christa. You summed it up beautifully.
Leanna Rodabaugh says
Christa, The mayor is required by law to only engage in contracts if the council approves. After much disagreements and arguing back and forth the council deadlocked on the issue and the mayor broke to the tie giving himself authority on the issue. He claims the town’s attorney signed off on the contract but the attorney did not know about it until the whole issue erupted. The may DELIBERATELY hid the contract in several ways.
1. He never had any discussions with the council
2. He never talked with the attorney.
3. He split up the costs between 8 departments in order to make the cost more palatable. The town doesn’t even have 8 separate departments. He made water/sewer into 2 departments for instance.
4. He signed the contract AFTER the budget was finalized on Dec. 12 AFTER the council left at 10:30 at night.
5. He deliberately hid the contract until a council member discovered the expense late into March.
IF none of this is suspicious to you then, it is what it is. If you haven’t read Judge Recht’s ruling then you should do that.
C. Kalinski says
Mayor Dewey,
I wish I could vote in the coming election. We are part of the Stevensville community but outside the town limits. The actions of Crew and Michalson and their cohort are despicable. Their approaches are deplorable. If they would spend half their efforts in actually using their experience in supporting the community instead of indulging their own egos the whole town would benefit. While I do agree that you have pushed the limits at times and need to proceed with caution in your efforts in the future, my impression is that you have done this with the best of intentions, despite the self-serving obstructions of Crew/Michalson and company. Best to you in your future endeavors, whatever they may be.
Jim Crews says
Dewey, you are obviously out of your mind. Elected officials do not attack private citizens.
I told the whole world I was not interested in being the mayor and I could care less that you won.
What I wanted was a mayor who would obey the law, follow the towns policies and procedures and be truthful with the Citizenry.
You have failed on all counts. You have continuously violated the rights of the citizens of this town including my rights personally.
Yet you continue down the muddy road you have chosen because you are too stubborn to do things right. You are going to get what you deserve.
By the way, go pick up your apples, stop littering the sidewalks and street and stop wasting food.
Jim Crews
Jessica says
I have indeed been bullied and sought out and intimidated! I also, have my name ran threw the trash because I spoke against YOU and BOB and Leanna and even Ginger decided to put me out social media.. would like the screenshots SIR?? I asking you to stop the twisting of facts, you can i Interpret code And twist it like no one if have ever met. I have lawyer that charges $300 an hour and he finds the screenshots very interesting as well. You should note everything is documented. The past is still very relevant and actions will catch up to you Jim!!
A. Tribbensee says
Jessica, I couldn’t agree with you more. I too have been bullied and harassed by the very same people you mention. I don’t understand all the hate. We as a Stevensville Community need to come together and stand up for what is right and no longer tolerate what is wrong. I stand for our Community and our Mayor.
Susan Devlin says
Jessica no one deserves to be bullied. You’re an intelligent, thoughtful, decent human being. I’m appalled at how Leanna, Crews and their cohorts have threatened and bullied you. I, too, have screenshots of all their nasty, belittling, threatening comments. You’re strong.
Susan Devlin says
An excellent, heartfelt letter to the people in Stevensville proper and surrounding areas
Mayor Dewey has made mistakes but who of us haven’t. He does have, and always has had the best interests of Stevensville in the forefront of his actions