by Mayor Brandon E. Dewey, Stevensville
Bob Michalson’s recent letter to the editor regarding resignations and retirements from the Town of Stevensville is yet another example of how he fabricates facts to mislead the citizens of Stevensville. He often prefaces his musings with the question “Did you know?”, but the truth is Michalson doesn’t know the facts himself.
It is true that several resignations and retirements have occurred during my tenure as mayor. Some may remember the concerns expressed by citizens for succession planning with so many looming retirements when I took office. In fact, Michalson himself often noted that retirements were on the horizon while he served on the Town Council. Of those who have not retired over the past three-and-a-half years many have moved on to better opportunities, because we all can acknowledge that the highest wages in the County or State do not exist in Stevensville’s Town Hall, contrary to Michalson’s editorial. Admittedly, a few have left our organization because they failed to meet the high standard of service that our citizens expect of their public servants. Lastly, and most unfortunately, are those who resigned because they felt they had no other recourse to escape the documented and proven harassment and mistreatment of Bob Michalson.
All of us are familiar with the history of Michalson’s actions, there’s no need to rehash that here. But what is important to take away from his letter to the editor in the September 15 edition of the Bitterroot Star, is that he believes the citizens of Stevensville can be misled to believe that others are to blame for his own actions. Michalson’s letter highlights how little he thinks of the Town’s staff with name misspellings and incomplete facts. In his letter, Michalson is bold enough to make up names for people who never worked for the Town of Stevensville.
While Michalson continuously demands an increase in transparency within our Town government, he doesn’t think anyone will actually utilize the transparency that has already been installed under this administration in the last three-and-a-half years. Anyone can request the information that Michalson cites in his letter and find the truth within public records.
Does he know what he’s talking about? Or does he think that the rest of us will take his word for it?
Lynn Sutherland says
Well said! The community needs to pay attention to the facts.
Wish my husband and i could vote (reside just outside town limits).
Mike Miller says
Speaking of “needs to pay attention to the facts”, let’s remember a judge ruled Mayor Dewey broke the Law. Additionally, Mayor Dewey also violated our Constitution by failing to allow We, The People our 1st Amendment Rights to free speech and assembly by restricting Town Hall meetings and not allowing our voices to heard or annotated into the Minutes.
Both those facts were covered by articles in this very newspaper.
We do NOT need a mayor who breaks the Law and violates our Constitution!
B says
So you think that the whole town should have crammed into a too small room for a meeting with Covid spreading like wildfire?? You can’t really be serious, right?
Mike Miller says
Is that you, Brandon Dewey, trying to be in disguise with just “B” as your name?
No one was forced to go in person if they didn’t want to, and masks could’ve been worn if wanted for those who wanted to go.
Past that, I refer to the online meetings. I guessed you missed that fact when it happened, but as I stated, it was covered by this newspaper.
I note you conveniently don’t retort about the fact that a judge stated that Mayor Dewy broke the Law.
Yes, I’m serious.