After a standby councilmember nomination was rejected by the Oakley City Council, Councilman George Fuller took to social media alleging racism and discrimination.
In the rant, Fuller accused councilmember Anissa Williams of being a “power elite” and insinuated Edgar Flores was rejected because he was a Latino candidate. He also blamed the city manager for his selection being rejected. He called what occurred at the May 13 Oakley City Council Meeting a “a racist, humiliating, and embarrassing rejection”. However, in his social media rant, Fuller failed to share it was explained by the city attorney twice during the meeting of the required qualifications, the policy was also provided and even included in the staff report.
Williams said Monday she was aware of Councilmember Fullers social media post and says she pulled the item because she wanted to clarify Flores qualifications and it had nothing to do with Mr. Flores Latino background.
“The fact Mr. Fuller would even make this claim is not only shocking and untrue, but completely disgusting,” said Williams. “My voting record on appointments speaks for itself.”
According to the staff report:
Pursuant to Sections 8635-8641 of Article 15, Chapter 7, Division 1, Title 2 of the California Government Code, the City Council may appoint standby members in the event they are unavailable during a state of emergency. A Councilmember is deemed “unavailable” if “either killed, missing, or so seriously injured as to be unable to attend meetings and otherwise perform his duties.” (GC §8636)
On March 27, 2018, the Oakley City Council adopted Ordinance No. 04-18 to allow for the appointment of standby City Councilmembers in accordance with GC §8636.
In accordance with Oakley Municipal Code Section 2.5.018(a), “Standby members must have prior experience having served on an agency board, commission or council.” In addition, the qualifications of a standby member should be carefully examined, the standby member must consent, and consideration should be given to places of residence and work “so that for each office for which standby officers are appointed there shall be the greatest probability of survivorship.” (GC §8639) A standby member may be a resident or officer of another agency
At the council meeting, Williams pulled the item noting for the reason of not knowing who Edgar Flores was. She said she was “curious and wanted to make sure it met the municipal code” by having prior experience serving on an agency, board or council.
Fuller took issue with his nomination being questioned and referred to Flores Latin background several times during the discussion on the agenda item. He responded, “this is the first time someone has been called up. Its interesting that its Edgar Flores is being called out up. He is a resident of District 5,” noting he has introduced him to several representatives of the city. “It’s the first time I’ve seen a standby councilmember challenged and its interesting its Edgar Flores being challenged.
Williams again cited the municipal code noting the prior experience.
Fuller then requested legal opinion stating this was the first time he had heard of this noting other standby councilmembers had not even be residents within the City of Oakley.
“I’ve never heard that they have had to serve on a commission or certain specialty or VIP. He is an individual and a member of the painters union, District Council 16 and very involved in the community. I believe he would be the first person of Latino heritage or color to ever be even informally involved with the dais in the city of Oakley,” said Fuller. “The only other person that has been close is Claire Alaura and she was not Latina. I don’t quite know where we are going with this. It’s the first I’ve ever heard of this.”
City Attorney Derek Cole explained that standby council members must have certain experience while stating the legislative intent that if there is an emergency and they are forced to step in it would not “be their first rodeo” because they would be stepping in when there is likely an emergency and need minimal competence such as running an organization, running a meeting and doing so under challenging circumstance which has always been in the code.
“Its interesting Councilmember Williams, this is the first in 15 years that I’ve heard of it challenged in such a manner,” said Fuller who cited Flores experience. “I will stand by him.”
Mayor Shannon Shaw said this was the first time it has been brought up since she was elected but confirmed the policy when she was asked to appoint a standby councilmember and the need for experience—noting Sue Higgins is her standby councilmember and at one point even former mayor Merl Craft of Pittsburg serve in the role.
“When we do talk about this being a potential issue, I think you said the first person up here, I don’t know if you said Hispanic or person of color, but we have had that in the past,” stated Shaw. “I don’t think that is what this is.”
Shaw continued saying if the question was raised, it was a valid question based off what is in the handbook. Williams then asked the attorney to further clarify the policy and for the second time Attorney Cole shared the ordinance with the council.
“I think this is the first time I’ve seen it called. Its being called on a LatinX and being called on organized labor. It would be the first LatinX and the first person of color to be involved formally or informally in a capacity on the dais and I think it would be a disservice, rude, and discriminatory not to allow him to sit up here,” Fuller replied.
Shaw reminded Fuller that Merl Craft had been a standby councilmember in the past so Fullers statement was not factual in nature.
Fuller then motioned for Flores to become his standby councilmember. The motion failed after not receiving a second. Fuller will have to come back and put forward another nomination as his standby councilmember.
Fuller wrote the following on social media:
YOU HAVE TO LISTEN TO THIS!!
Councilmember Williams demonstrated her extraordinary belief that she is a member of the power elite because she is a councilmember of Oakley during the last council meeting. Yes, the same Councilmember Anissa Williams, disguised as the Mayor of Oakley, flew to China courtesy of the Peoples Republic of China (PRC), which funded the excursion.
Williams went to China on a sneaky basis. Councilmember Williams did not inform the residents of Oakley that she was going to China as an envoy for Oakley. Unfortunately, the City Manager, Joshua McMurray, and three other council members (Meadows, Shaw, and Henderson) hid the trip from the people of Oakley.
So, last Tuesday night (May 13), Williams observed that I nominated Edgar Flores as my alternate in an emergency. If I became incapacitated in a declared emergency, Mr. Flores would step to the dais. I asked Mr. Flores if he would be my alternate in an emergency. He graciously accepted.
Mr. Flores is a family man who resides in District 5 of the City of Oakley. He and his wife are raising their children in our City, and they attend Oakley schools. Mr. Flores is the business manager of District Council Sixteen of the Painters and Affiliated Trade Union. He is a member of the Board of Directors of the Contra Costa Construction and Building Trades Council.
Mr. Flores arranged for District Council 16 to donate $4000.00 to the Friends of the Oakley Library to construct our new library. He also arranged a $1000.00 donation to the St. Vincent de Paul of St. Anthony’s food pantry to assist families in feeding their families during the Christmas Season. Mr. Flores assisted with that food distribution.
Mr. Flores is a proud member of the Heritage of Latino Culture.
Yes, I believe Ms. Williams observed Mr. Flores’ name on the consent calendar, realized he was Latino, and pulled his name from the item. This is the first time in my fifteen years in Oakley that a standby member nomination was challenged.
Williams said Mr. Flores was not qualified. He had not served in a public office or been a member of the right agency. I brought to the council’s attention his continued work with the trades and his commitment to the City of Oakley. None of it was good enough for Williams. She could sneak off the China on a PRC-paid trip, but Flores’s donating time, energy, and money was inadequate. It became clear that the real issue with Williams and the other council members was Mr. Flores’s Latino ancestry. I moved Mr. Flores’s approval for the standby position, but the Rotary Club of Oakley three plus one did not second the motion, so the motion died.
I want to note that I blamed our city manager, Joshua McMurray, for the incident. He prepared the agenda. McMurray knew Flores would be rejected, or should have known. He should have contacted me to inform me of the situation, and I could have removed the nomination. It would have saved Mr. Flores and his family from such a racist, humiliating, and embarrassing rejection.
I will comment on the incident further in the future.
Below is a picture of Williams giving the thumbs up to her PRC comrades and another of Mr. Flores (in center next to Liz Fuller in pink sweater) giving The Friends of the Oakley Library a $4000.00 check.
Below is a link to the dialogue and rhetoric of the approval debate.
George Fuller, Ed.D., City Councilmember, District 5, City of Oakley
Editors Note:
Councilmember George Fuller continues to block residents, elected officials on social media and it is unclear if, any, action will be taken by the City of Oakley, Contra Costa County District Attorney or FPPC.
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