LETTER: What the upcoming rally is about

Editor's note: This letter has been edited for content.

Dear editor, 

There are many Milton residents who have asked me to (recent posts). I have resisted because I did not want to add any fuel to the fire for continued negative comments on Facebook about myself and many other life long Miltonians. I must say, when they rake me and others over the coals like they have done on Facebook it is hard not to respond.

Those of you who know me, know that I do not curse or talk (as I) have (been accused) of. I simply never have and never plan to.

However, I did confront (two women) just outside the front door of City Hall, in a well-lit area with several citizens as witnesses immediately after our weak council voted to terminate Brian Watkins, our city manager.

Brian was voted "Man of the Year" by the Chamber of Commerce last year and represented the city of Milton with dignity for many years. He accepted his dismissal with that same dignity that he served the city with and that he served the Navy with.

I did raise my voice. I don’t deny that for a minute.

I told them they were idiots and that they had lost all common sense. I own that and I would say it again in a heartbeat. It’s simply the truth.

I also asked them where they thought they might find another city manager as qualified and competent as Mr. Watkins and asked why they were trying to bring our city down.

They have tried to fire our city attorney and have posted on Facebook rumors.

With all our past mayors and council members, their continued employment has never been an issue.

Our previous mayors have never cursed a citizen.

He has tried to sweep the issue under the table by saying he was accosted but the truth is a citizen was in his vehicle with the door closed after the firing of Brian Watkins and simply made the statement "I am very disappointed in your vote tonight." 

In our history we have never had the honorable mayor of the city respond to a citizen with the language that Mayor Meiss spewed at this citizen.

They have yet to give me any answer or reason for their groups’ unreasonable and vindictive agenda. They use intimidation with anyone who questions them.

I simply posted about the rally of concerned citizens and they entered the page not for positive input but to bash anyone that wanted to discuss the rally and its purpose. They continually refer to a shadow government obviously referring to anyone who worked for the previous mayor. 

One of their primary focuses seems to be the firing of anyone who worked for the previous administration by alluding to the fact that these people are holding them and their agenda back.

In their myriad Facebook diatribes, (they ask) what our rally is about. I will be glad to tell you. It is about the power of the people. 

The concerned citizens of Milton have had enough. We are banding together to let this group know that no longer will the city of Milton be controlled by a select few pulling the strings of their handpicked council members.

We the people will populate the meetings. We the people will hold these council members accountable, no more late night major decisions that are not on the agenda with the vote taken so late that concerned citizens have no input.

If you want an item added to the agenda, be honest and straightforward and tell us what it is. Don’t sweep it under the rug.  

Come clean! Be transparent! Just be plain, old-fashioned honest!

That is what our rally is about – honesty in government and citizen involvement. 

We pray that our rally will be full of people that care about Milton and free from the rabble rousers and hecklers that (this group) seems to perpetuate on Facebook.

(The) group accuses us of being negative and backward. This is just not true. It’s just (a) way of muddying the waters and attempting to thwart forward progress that might not include the devaluing of our historic district so that (others) can buy up devalued properties and apply for more grant money for their multiple nonprofits. 

Let’s wrap this up. I’m not sorry for a word I said. I meant every syllable. I’d say it again.

If you aren’t afraid to speak up and take a stand, I ask you to join me and other concerned citizens at a respectful rally 4:30 to 5:30 p.m. next Tuesday, May 8 at Milton City Hall. 

Let the posting of ridiculous accusations begin!

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This article originally appeared on Santa Rosa Press Gazette: LETTER: What the upcoming rally is about