WHEELING, IL. (ECWd) –
During this evening’s Wheeling Village Trustee meeting, Mayor Horcher issued a Proclamation in support of the Constitution of the United States of America and celebration of Constitution Week.
Yes! He advised “all citizens to reflect on all of their privileges and rights of being an American” – however, it appears it was nothing more than going thru the motions…because…
Almost immediately afterward, he trampled all over a citizen’s First Amendment RIGHT to petition the government, and her Statutory right under the Open Meetings Act to address her public officials during open public meetings. Someone should file a criminal complaint against Mayor Horcher for the crime of violation of Section 2.06(g) of the Open Meetings Act, which if proven guilty is a Class C Misdemeanor according to Section 4 of the Act.
He appeared to have a problem with addressing elected officials by-name. However, the OMA specifically permits addressing “public officials” – it does not prohibit naming them, and it does not require addressing the entire board at the same time:
(g) Any person shall be permitted an opportunity to address public officials under the rules established and recorded by the public body.
In a supreme act of hatred and contempt towards a citizen voicing her opinion, Mayor Horcher continually interrupted her comments, acted in an unprofessional way, appeared to be acting on previous bad advice from their attorney, and finally ejected her from the meeting thru the use of a city police officer.
He was wrong, the city was wrong, and any attorney that advised him to do that was wrong.
Watch the video:
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4 Comments
Jeffrey Sanders
Posted at 21:24h, 07 September“Its,” not “It’s.”
jmkraft
Posted at 21:26h, 07 SeptemberThanks.
Joe
Posted at 21:12h, 06 SeptemberI hear a variety of other voices calling out “President Horcher.” I heard at least three clearly distinct voices call out “President Horcher!” while this woman spoke and each time it was like another puppeteer was pulling his strings and he was struggling. The voices are loud enough to make me think that they have a mic so I am guessing it is the other Trustees. There is a lot more I could say on this one but I am mentioning the one that is at the root of the problem I see here.
graciesmom2003
Posted at 15:40h, 08 SeptemberYep. Same Trustees that have told Ms. Wilson to “shut up” and that her first amendment rights are “revoked” when she comes to a Board meeting! Obviously, these Trustees do not know the laws that govern their actions and seem to think they do not have to listen to the people.