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Supervisor Bob Williams Censured – Tehama Unites Against Misogyny

Shout-out to Bill Cornelius, the Wednesday resident of my Saturday column space in the Red Bluff Daily News. 

Bill Cornelius (r) and his BFF Tom Hanks – Bill’s public profile pic on Facebook. Tom’s is different

His descriptions of all the local columnists were spot on, and I am happy he remembers our door knocking adventures as fondly as I do. Bill is a super funny guy with a dry delivery and superb timing. If you’ve never seen him emcee an event…what am I saying? If you live in Tehama County, you have. He’s the go-to guy around here and has volunteered countless hours at the State Theatre fighting off would-be contenders for his position.
Bill hosted one or more of our comedy shows at the State Theatre where Will Durst closed for us or we opened for him depending on your perspective. 
He walked back into the old tiny green room to shake Will’s hand, but caught him in his underwear. We comedians always lounge about in our underwear so we’re not all wrinkly when we go on stage. That was something to see back in the day but now not so much.

Will Durst, Sarah Anker, Liz Merry, Aaron Standish – photo by Linda Bullock

 

Bill thought it would be funny to tell the audience that Will wasn’t wearing pants and Will came right out of the wings and knocked him out with one punch. Or made fun of him. One of those. 

 

Anyway, thanks for the kind words and memories, Bill, and also for adding your voice to Robert “The Dean” Minch’s and the hundreds or thousands of other voices joined in a choir of condemnation for Supervisor Bob Williams’ vulgar tirade. Even Pastor Scott suggested he repent. Harsh.

 

Did you catch the meeting? I streamed it to my Facebook page and well over 1,000 people viewed it within the first 24 hours. There were 80-100 attendees in the supes chambers. Normally there are less than 20 including Department Heads.

Photo by Sam Chimenti

Williams read an apology in which he claimed to be the victim and also protector of the females in his family, because everyone knows the best way to defend the honor of women is to call other women C-words. He said he was sorry if his words “unintentionally” offended anyone. Unintentionally? I swear I am not making this up.

 

Was he sincere? It doesn’t matter. He apologized and that had to be difficult for him. It’s not something he is used to doing and I thank him for trying, even if it was 2 weeks later. 

 

Item 19 came up quickly and there was an immediate line of citizens snaking around the chambers who wanted to speak out on it. Chairwoman Candy Carlson read the item and three sub-items and explained again that the board had no power to remove Williams. County Counsel Margaret Long explained that an investigation might be initiated, but that would be a confidential matter, which makes perfect sense. It’s not a criminal offense. If it was, Andrew Dice Clay would be in jail. And that would suck because Andrew Clay has become a terrific actor.

 

Williams then did the inexplicable. He said he disagreed with Counsel, and felt that his Constitutional rights were being violated by this proceeding, specifically the Fifth and Fourteenth Amendments. That got one of the first major outbursts from the crowd – and any good will he had garnered with the “apology” went right out the window. 

 

The sweet irony of Williams choosing those two amendments is that they are two of the main ones cannabis abatement victims complain are being violated, along with the Fourth. We are always told, because it’s not a criminal offense, the Fifth and Fourteenth do not apply. 

 

The Fourth does, of course, but victims of the TC abatement scheme still have been unable to afford to get a case all the way to a judgment in Federal Court. The County just pays for more lawyers and eventually outspends the victims, because if one decision goes against them, there will be a long line of people wanting their property and fines back. 

 

But back to the meeting. All the speakers had their say, only one of them in support of Williams. There were too many brilliant points made for me to repeat them all, but many referred to this not being about one statement, but rather a history of abusive behavior stretching back years.

Martha Kleykamp making a brilliant point – photo by Sam Chimenti

You can listen to the audio online here.

 

Now let’s get to the votes. The order got switched around from the original agenda, so the first item was censure. Carlson read the item and requested “the pleasure of the board”, which means “Would anyone like to make a motion?” Crickets. So Carlson moved the item, seconded by John Leach. Bill Moule joined them in voting Yes and Dennis Garton and Williams voted No. Garton stated he agreed with Williams that the entire proceeding was illegal, so we knew he’d be voting No on everything. So, 3-2 Yes for censure.

Bob Williams (l) and Dennis Garton (r) – photo by Same Chimenti

The second vote was removal of Williams from all committees, commissions, councils, and appointments. Carlson had to move that one, too. It died for lack of a second. 

 

The third vote was to request the resignation of Williams. Motion by Carlson, second by Leach. This time Moule voted No with Garton and Williams, so that failed, too. John Leach stated he valued Williams’ connections in Sacramento and the fact that he had served on so many boards and associations, so it was odd when he seconded the resignation item. Maybe he knew it didn’t have the votes. 

Scorecard of the votes

There was some disappointment over the outcome, but I am happy with censure. He wasn’t going to resign and some of the boards and associations on which he serves may have a few stern words for him, too. CSAC and RCRC to name a couple. Losing a skirmish or two now doesn’t matter because we already won the war. Back on June 7, remember? 66 – 34?

 

It’s time to deal with the many issues we face. Water, the budget, water, homelessness, water, the new jail, water, roads, water, the courthouse annex, and water.

Liz Merry

Liz Merry was born in Brooklyn, raised in the Bronx, then transplanted to the Jersey Shore. She moved to Chico in 1984 and married her comedy partner, Aaron Standish, in 1990. They have lived in Manton since 1994.

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