Mansfield resolution on civility comes on heels of combative exchange
The Mansfield City Council passed a resolution calling for more civility between elected officials and the public shortly after the mayor and a resident engaged in a round of verbal sparring with racial undertones.
Before the public comments portion of the April 27 City Council meeting, Mayor Michael Evans asked council member Tamera Bounds to read the resolution, which would be voted on later. The resolution asserts the right to free speech while encouraging respectful debate.
“The Council, City staff, and residents share a collective responsibility to engage in civil public discourse by listening actively, speaking respectfully, and participating constructively, with the goal of seeking common ground and advancing solutions that benefit the entire community,” the resolution reads.
Minutes later, resident Raymond Barlowe approached the dais and called Evans, who is a pastor, “a false prophet” and “a hypocrite” in relation to his handling of a complaint Barlowe made against Mansfield police. Barlowe has previously accused city leaders of overlooking poor workmanship when issuing building permits, and earlier this year he traveled to Houston and protested in front of the headquarters of David Weekley Homes holding a sign alleging the home builder sold him a “lemon.”
Barlowe also took issue with Evans calling him “brother” at a past council meeting, saying he wasn’t close with the mayor and resented the term of familiarity.
“You’re not my brother,” Barlowe said. “Don’t you ever disrespect me.”
After that, Barlowe, who is Black, called Evans, who is also Black, an “Uncle Tom,” at which point Evans cut Barlowe’s time short while seemingly antagonizing him.
“God bless you. Your comments have just ended. You have a great night ... brother,” Evans said, further angering Barlowe, who left as two police officers approached him.
Evans did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The Star-Telegram was unable to reach Barlowe for comment.
Bounds told the Star-Telegram she drafted the resolution, and that it wasn’t written in response to any particular incident or with any particular citizens in mind. The resolution is an aspirational statement, said Bounds, passed in the hope that it will make council members and citizens more aware of the tone and tenor of their words.
The resolution on civility was written in accordance with a template used by the National League of Cities, Bound said. The organization, to which Mansfield belongs, has embarked upon a campaign to promote what it calls healthy dialogue at the city government level.
Bounds said since city governments operate closest to the people they serve, that’s where civil discourse begins.
“We’re wanting to support effective governance,” said Bounds.
As written, the resolution doesn’t reduce the time limit for public comments, nor does it have the authority to govern what is said. In February, the Tarrant County Commissioners Court adopted new rules related to decorum during public comments that reduced the time limit for speakers. It also restricted what items would be discussed during open sessions.
These changes prompted an outcry from county residents who saw them as an attack on free speech.
While the resolution doesn’t explicitly restrict speech, Mansfield’s City Council procedural rules do allow the mayor to preserve order and decorum at council meetings. Bounds said this gives the mayor the power to intervene when a member of the public engages in obscene speech or in speech intended to incite others in the room. Whether or not the mayor exercises that power is subjective, Bounds said.
When asked about the exchange with Barlowe and whether Evans’ use of the term “brother” was appropriate, Bounds said she didn’t want to speak for the mayor. But she said she agreed with Evans cutting Barlowe off.
“From a procedural point, I think the mayor was in his right to tell him he was done,” said Bounds, adding that “Uncle Tom” is widely considered a racial slur.
As for the resolution, Bounds said she doesn’t want Mansfield residents to view it as an attempt to silence citizens.
“I’m hoping people will take it for how it’s written and not take it for censorship.”