July 11, 2017

I received the following letter from a supporter regarding Council Member Thurman’s comments against her critics at last night’s council meeting.

Tim Becker

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Dear Milton Coalition:

Competitive elections are coming to Milton. And the stress is apparently too much for one council member. Why else would Council member Karen Thurman come down off the dais and speak to her own city council, as a private citizen? Really?

I wasn’t at the city council meeting on Monday night. I wish I had been. I am sure many citizens who watch her speech will be thoroughly confused. I mean the rambling on and on of police officers being murdered, hostility, negativity, suicides, baby killings, and hateful, really hateful bullies; one wonders if Councilmember Thurman knows where she lives. Maybe I was wrong, so I peeked out my windows half expecting to see a mob coming down the street. But all was well in Milton.

I guess the cause of the problem in my mind is that Councilmember Thurman does not like to be criticized. Period. She does not like to have her political positions or decisions questioned or challenged. How arrogant. What she really wants is to have the citizens of Milton pat her on the back and tell her she’s doing a great job. Any other comments are unwelcome. Well, that’s not real life is it?

In June, Fulton County residents were united against an unfair tax assessment. Town Hall meetings were packed with articulate and angry voters who told compelling stories. What was missing – violence.

It is outrageous that Councilmember Thurman is trying to scare and intimidate by threatening that violence will be the outcome if any Milton voter dares to speak up, or blog about things they don’t like about our city government or elected officials. While none of us like to think we’re wrong, criticism comes with the job in politics. Politicians serve the voters; it isn’t the other way around. If you don’t want to hear from your constituents when they disagree with you, maybe you need to do something else.

Council member Thurman, in case you are reading this, here is the First Amendment to the Constitution: Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.

Notice that the Constitution guarantees us freedom of speech, there are no qualifiers. As Council member Thurman so eloquently stated, “…unfortunately there are those that choose to misuse this freedom…” Unbelievable. Council member Thurman, you are not the gatekeeper of what is and isn’t appropriate free speech.

Big Brother is watching! I also found it terrifying that Council member Thurman expects private organizations to provide (at her request) their membership lists and open their meetings to all comers. Yes, the government does this, because they are required to by law. Politicians wanting to interfere in local citizen watchdog groups…how very McCarthyesque. Again, Council member Thurman please consult the Constitution.

Finally, I can’t end this blog without addressing all the biblical references. My faith is important to me as well. So I really can’t comprehend what made Council member Thurman insert biblical passages into such a hateful speech. So I’ll just reference Ecclesiastes 7:9. Do not be quickly provoked in your spirit, for anger resides in the lap of fools.

No one is fooled. You can come off the dais and claim you are speaking as a private citizen. But we know the truth. We know who the real bully is.

A Concerned Milton Citizen

July 11, 2017

At last night’s City Council meeting, Council Member Karen Thurman descended from the dais and delivered a long, bizarre, rambling, and hyperbolic speech from the citizen’s podium to her fellow council members (under the guise of being a “private citizen”).  Ms. Thurman lashed out at citizens that have criticized her, labeling them multiple times as bullies, hateful, divisive, and negative.  It was a personal attack, mostly devoid of any policy discussion.  Thurman sunk so low as to compare her critics to murderers of children and to bullies that prompt their victims to commit suicide.  Ms. Thurman’s  personal attacks were oddly juxtaposed with the quoting of passages from the Bible.

It is sad that Ms. Thurman finds it necessary to resort to personal attacks.  Ms. Thurman seems unable or unwilling to engage citizens in honest debate about the serious issues that face our city.  Ms. Thurman’s speech was nothing more than a transparent attempt to divert attention from her own unethical behavior (please see tomorrow’s post) and her sagging political fortunes.  Through her own actions, Ms. Thurman has lost the trust and confidence of citizens.  She has no one to blame but herself.  Citizens are the victims of the policies she has promoted while on Council.

Although sometimes blunt in our comments at Council and on-line, Milton Coalition supporters have always focused on policy and the comportment of Council Members in their role as government officials.  We have not (and will not) resort to personal attacks.  Furthermore, we are unapologetic about calling out and holding Council Members accountable for their bad behavior.  Our mission is to promote good governance, which often entails exposing poor governance and malfeasance.  We seek justice for citizens.  And we stick to the facts.

I urge all citizens to watch this video and to draw your own conclusions.   And if you have not signed our Good Governance and Smart Development petition, please click the following link:  Milton Coalition Petition

(Postscript:  Note that Ms. Thurman intentionally lists 2 home addresses at the beginning of her speech.  Ms. Thurman lives at the home on Tournament Players Drive and is renting/selling the home on Lake Bend Court, where she no longer resides.  See future posts for why this is important.  Hint:  These homes were once in different election districts, but now are both in Election District 1 . . . )

Advocating For Good Governance,

Tim Becker