Paul Ford/David Green rivalry explodes again

by Brian Allen of of Best Southwest Citizen

It is common knowledge that Duncanville Mayor David Green and District 3 Councilman Paul Ford don’t get along.

The two are in opposition on nearly every issue and with another sure to be contentious election cycle at hand (including Paul Ford’s District 3 seat), things reached a boiling point Tuesday night.

On paper, this looked like one of the least controversial agendas to come before the council. But Ford had presented a separate version of the minutes from the Feb.17 meeting at which the council discussed Ford’s proposal to ban red light cameras. The council ultimately voted that measure down. Ford believed the version of the minutes presented by City Secretary Dara Crabtree did not accurately represent his stance, so he prepared his own minutes.

“So I have offered a revision to the minutes, just to present what I said how I said it,” Ford said. “This is what it is: Paul Ford commented that there is no evidence that red light cameras improve safety and quoted extensively from a large study conducted by the North Carolina Urban Transit Institute that concluded that red light cameras were a detriment to safety.”

Ford said none of his city council colleagues disputed that those were in fact the words Ford said.

Councilwoman Dorothy Burton said the council has agreed that the city secretary does not have to take verbatim minutes. Thus, Burton said she would vote against Ford’s minutes.

“I never commit to memory word for word anything any of you say,” she said. “I do like to sleep at night.”

Councilwoman Johnette Jameson said that Ford summarized his comments in 2 1/2 lines, exactly the same length that Crabtree used. After Ford offered further defense of his minutes, Burton called the question a move that would end all debate if Mayor Green agreed.

Ford has prepared his own minutes on several occasions and the council typically rebuffs him in the attempt. No doubt armed with the knowledge that this night wasn’t going to be any different, Ford was determined to say his peace.

Ford called for a point of order. Green said that the question had been called and attempted to continue with the vote. Ford continued speaking, causing Green to declare him out of order. Ford shot back that it was Green who was out of order, and another chaotic session of Duncanville council ensued. Green called for a five-minute recess.

When the council members returned, Ford continued attempting to speak and Green continued his attempt to call for the vote. This time Green threatened Ford with another recess, and said if Ford tried again after that Green would have him removed from council chambers.

“You’re going to get the police on me because I say things-” Ford was about to continue but Green interrupted.

“I’m not going to get the police on you, I’m going to have you removed from the chambers,” Green said.

“If not by the police, by whom?” Ford asked.

“By the police officer,” Green said. Ford then asked Police Chief Robert Brown to come forward. Green said no, and then called for another five-minute recess. At this point, City Attorney Bob Hager reminded Green there was a motion on the floor.

“Yes sir,” Green acknowledged. “But I can’t get him to quiet down so we can do it.”

After the second recess, Ford continued speaking while the council took its vote. That measure passed, as did a a later motion to approve Crabtree’s version of the minutes.

With much of the latter half of the agenda being executive session, councilmember reports were moved up to be the fourth item. They were intriguing as well.

Councilman Grady Smithey, prefacing his comments by saying he had served on 19 councils since 1984, termed the night’s events an embarrassment. For council meetings as infamous as Duncanville’s, that’s saying something.

“We’ve got to learn how not to embarrass the citizens of Duncanville,” Smithey said. “What we did up here tonight was an embarrassment to the citizens of Duncanville, and if we don’t have enough class to understand that this was an embarrassment to the city of Duncanville, then shame on us.”

If Smithey’s words were meant to deter Ford, well, they didn’t. In Ford’s report, he continued his themes from earlier in the meeting and even announced his impending presence on the Web.

“I want to announce the beginning of a petition drive to ban red light cameras in Duncanville,” Ford said. “A petition drive to put on the ballot an ordinance banning red light cameras. I need about 1,300 signatures. I can’t do it alone, I need lots of help. Please e-mail or phone me if you can help out and we will make it happen.”

Ford then presented Paul Ford Reports, a site he promises will give take readers behind the scenes of Duncanville politics. Ford cautioned it is not strictly a campaign site.

It will almost certainly become a campaign issue, however.