A decade ago, the Republicans nominated Elbert Huckaby as their mayoral candidate. He went on to suffer one of the biggest political defeats in city history.
Since then, he's rarely been seen in political circles.
But last night, he showed at the City Council meeting to declare that America is a Christian nation, that he repudiates the Clintons, and that he doesn't have any use for gay people.
Then he ripped into city Councilor Craig Minor, calling him a whiny know-it-all and tossing in a few other choice words that I didn't quite process in the shock of the moment.
Mayor Art Ward immediately told Huckaby that he would not put up with such disrespectful talk at council sessions.
Huckaby declared he was merely exercising his First Amendment rights and insisted he had said nothing offensive.
He proceeded to say something about how Minor and his people have lowered the standards of our country, though I couldn't quite figure out how. Minor, by the way, is Jewish.
Huckaby finished up with some sort of vague threat to Minor.
"You got a free pass this time," Huckaby told the councilor. What that meant, I don't know.
Perhaps Huckaby is contemplating a council race in 2009 aimed at unseating Minor.
*******
Copyright 2007. All rights reserved.
Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com
57 comments:
Minor road in on frank's coat tails once again. Surely its not for Minor's smarts.
Surprise, you're on candid camera!
Kudos to Mayor Ward for demanding decorum at city council meetings. Especially when the speaker starts down racial or religious slurring paths.
The ironic part of this is that for the months running up to the primary and election how many posters to this blog pointed to Ellen Zoppo and the former Mayor Stortz and their alleged disrespect of the electorate as the reason for citizen's rancor and acting out at meetings. Well folks neither Zoppo or Stortz were on stage last night so what's the new excuse for Huckaby's behavior?
As to Minor riding Nicastro's coat tails, well maybe? The more likely cause was the placement of Merrick on the ballot under Nicastro and the ballot being blank under Minor. It doesn’t matter how much you educate the voters or highlight the "Choose any two" instructions on the ballot, many voters still think you need to choose from one ballot line or the other. Merrick lined up against Nicastro was a bad draw for him and a windfall to Minor and the reelected councilman knows it.
thank God for Elbert Huckaby
I'm hoping Mr. Huckaby was just having a bad night. It's been a number of years since we've spoken, but I'v always known him to be respectful of others. It seems to me that the incident was properly handled.
WOW!!!! I missed the opening act at the circus. I didn't think it could get any better than when Stortz was going at it with Ken Johnson. Wish I coulod have been there just to see Steve's face. LOL
Our City Council meetings should have no tolerance for anti-semetic and homophobic statements or other hateful attacks on individuals.
What has been reported by Steve Collins is nothing more than verbal hate crimes.
What did Mr Huckaby's statements add to our City? The great City of Bristol is made up of a very diverse group of Citizens, each of whom add to the fabric of the Community we live in.
I would hope that in the future that Art Ward does not tolerate and has removed from Council Chambers anyone spewing hateful messages about other Citizens of our City and the USA.
Sometimes the electorate think that because they are the electorate they can do or say whatver to elected officials and not pay the price or even listen to the answers. You may not like Zoppo or Stortz, but the one thing about both of them, and specially Zoppo which in the end doomed her, was that she was not going to tell someone what they wanted to hear. There were many a nights when there were hot topics and she would jump in and there was lots of silence from her colleagues. Agree or not, she never pandered. And the class of people attending public council meetings latley has not been the cream of the crop by any means.
they honestly should have cops at these meetings. this is a disgrace.
Bob,
With all due respect homo-sexuality is blasted in certain passages of the Bible. Perhaps you'd like to censor that?
I'm getting tired of the gay agenda. Let's not forget some of the obnoxiously, ultra-liberal pro-gay agenda (aka "rights") letters that Laura Minor wrote to the Editor of the Press. Maybe one reaps what they sow?
The man has a right to his opinion, but he shouldn't have the right to spew hatred at City Council meetings. He should use a private medium for that.
I would not choose to censor the bible, nor the koran, the torah, book of morman or any other religious document. I did not suggest that. Would you like to censor those religious documents that you don't agree with?
While I don't have the number....there are many more....and numerous passages in the bible that "blast" hetro-sexual people. So what is your point?
I think there are plenty of people out there tired of "this agenda" or "that agenda" that are published as letters to the editors.
While I may not agree with someone's personal beliefs, I do not believe that being hateful to others is way to go.
What does spewing hateful messages gain any of us?
What I am saying is that we ALL need to be tolerant of the difference amongst all of us.
What makes this City and this Country a great place, is the diversity of our Citizens.
Live and let live.....
"Agree or not, she never pandered" This was written here about "Ellen".
My response is that the writer must be living in a dream world. She pandered to every/any special interest group in Bristol she could.
My next response is to ask; why we need to bring her up? Was she there? Who cares?
"Hate speech" is not "free speech".
Hey Huckaby,
George W. Bush called. He wants his agenda back.
Abraham Lincoln is ashamed of you.
Let's face facts, folks: Craig Minor is a whiny know-it-all. He can be very annoying. But it's not because he's Jewish. He actually does a pretty good job of tolerating all the Christian prayers, blessings, invocations, etc. at city-sponsored public events, like the inauguration and veterans' activities, to name but two. He rarely whines about all that stuff, and it can't be easy to swallow when his own religion isn't represented at all.
Get off Laura Minor's back! She preaches tolerance, which is more than we can say for a lot of you posters on this thread. And she's not a whiny know-it-all like Craig. She's just a good-hearted woman.
The fact that she's stayed married to Craig Minor all these years is proof positive that Laura Minor lives the tolerance she preaches. She not only talks the talk, she walks the walk.
Found this in my computer, a 1999 letter to the editor from former Mayor Mike Werner, a Republican:
May 12, 1999
Editor, The Bristol Press
Dear Editor:
At two recent City Council meetings, Elbert Huckaby, a member of the Bristol Republican Town Committee, has made several comments which have not been, and will not be, endorsed by the Town Committee. While his comments last month were over the line, his personal attacks at last night's meeting went too far. Mr. Huckaby's personal attacks on Joe Wilson and his family, on Johnathan Rosenthal, and on Patti Ewen were all out of line. His anti-Semetic remarks to Mr. Rosenthal were especially regrettable. I know these people personally, and while we may disagree on issues from time to time, they are all good people with good families, and they do not deserve the kind of treatment they received from Mr. Huckaby. I am equally angry, better yet outraged, by his slanderous and untrue accusation of a fellow Republican at last month's Republican Town Committee meeting.
Mr. Huckaby, who claims to be a Christian, is certainly not acting like one. I remember the Bible story of the adulteress who was about to be stoned when Jesus stood in front of her and challenged the crowd, "Let he who is without sin cast the first stone." Jesus lived among the outcasts of society. He did so not to rebuke them, but to teach them God's word of Grace and salvation so they would change their sinful ways. Most of His public attacks were against the Pharisees, who were the church leaders who pictured themselves as better than everyone else. Sound like anyone we know? Mr. Huckaby, I challenge you: the next time you get the urge to attack people in public, ask yourself, What would Jesus do?
While I may agree that homosexuality is not a proper lifestyle, I also believe it is wrong for men and women to live together without the benefit of marriage; that it's wrong to drive faster than the posted speed limit, to cheat on one's income tax, to have children out of wedlock, to cheat on final exams, and to take the Lord's name in vain. Sin is all around us. We all have sinned. We all sin every day. Let's work on our own weaknesses before we take it upon ourselves to tell others how to correct themselves.
Finally, the Bristol City Council oversees the departments who fix potholes, provide Police & Fire protection, pick up rubbish, and handle other municipal matters. They have no jurisdiction over the matter of homosexual rights. This issue has no business at a local Council meeting. If you have a point to make with regard to this issue, talk to your State Senator or to you Congresswoman.
Sincerely,
Michael Werner, Chairman
Bristol Republican Town Committee
The Bible, at least the New Testament, also teaches tolerance through the words of Jesus. Too bad some of the Bible beaters in our midst, including Huckaby and some of you posters who seem to agree with him, missed that lesson.
"I am equally angry, better yet outraged, by his slanderous and untrue accusation of a fellow Republican at last month's Republican Town Committee meeting"
Goes to show, as much as I like Mike he can be wrong sometimes. It is true and it was funny to see the worm (he is that too) squirm.
Isn't it funny that people cite that passage from Paul to condemn gays, but we hear almost nothing about "the sexually immoral," adulterers, thieves, greedy people, drunks, swindlers or slanderers?
You know, almost Republican presidential candidate has a demonstrable record of sexua immorality and adultery. They're probably greedy, too, but that's harder to prove.
The simple reality is that the Bible condemns nearly all of us at some point. So why the focus on gays? Why not bash drunks or slanderers?
Art Ward did a fine thing by chastising Elbert Huckaby. Thank you.
It's time that at least one Bristol Police Officer is present at the meetings and that people such as Elbert Huckaby who make such vailed threats be removed.
One might have First Amendment Rights, but they can never be at the expense of another's CIVIL RIGHTS.
Elbert Huckaby, Go To Jail, Go Directly to Jail!
Are any of the politically active people in either political party openly gay? I'd love for them to respond to a guy like this and show they can be community leaders among us, unlike Huckaby.
Because the subject is homosexuality. It is not anything else. I'm not trying to beat the Bible over anyones head here, I'm just reciting the Bible. Sorry!
I don't really think Huck's comments were appropriate. I'm embarassed for him. Obviously he made a fool of himself. But I can't get but a little cynical about the "outrage" coming from the pro-gay crowd. It should not be a crime to oppose homo-sexual behavior in a peaceful way. It's OK to burn the flag but not criticize gays?
I don't believe in giving up calling people on their hate speech.
In my book there is no room for hate speech ....hate speech does not equal free speech.
If you believe the bible tells you how you should live your life....THAT IS GREAT....
and as Jesus has said in John 8:7...."He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone" KJV
Live and let live.
Anonymous said...
Because the subject is homosexuality. ......
November 14, 2007 9:10 PM
QUICK REMINDER!
The discussion is about hate speech and vailed threats.....and the inappropriateness of those comments at a City Council meeting
Bob's point, and he is absolutely right, is that you people who chose (yes, chose) to single out gays for your condemnation very conveniently overlook scripture that talks about you! Like the passage that says the disrespectful son should be stoned to death! I don't hear you people calling for the death penalty for rude kids.
Interesting that David Duke and Elbert Huckaby both ran for political office as Republicans in the past 20 years.
Your tax money going to fight AIDS? Poor you. Most people with AIDS now are not gay, they're straight. Nobody is asking to get sick and nobody deserves that disease. I've seen what it can do and I lost a dear friend to it. The price of all kinds of stupid choices that people make (unprotected sex, doing drugs, driving drunk, drinking to excess, speeding, smoking, smoking, smoking and smoking) are borne by all of us as a society. We pay in taxes and in loss of life and loss of quality of life. So unless you are perfect, and believe me, you're not!, then shut your stupid piehole. And that is especially for you, Huckaby. You ought to be ashamed of yourself, being so awful that someone with Werner's character would disown you. Shame, shame, shame.
Bristol deserves the ugly reputation it has, I'm sorry to say. You hateful posters are proving it.
Still in love with your adopted town now, Bob? You should have looked beyond the housing prices.
The late, great Carmine of City Hall had a bunch of funny jokes about Huckaby when Huckaby ran for mayor. Many were a play on the first syllable of Huckaby's last name. I could do without Huckaby, but I wish Carmine was still here. He was a breath of fresh air and a nice guy, too. And believe me, he was no bigot.
This is why intelligent, thinking people move out of Bristol. It's a backward place with a few nice, earnest folks who deserve better, but they're not enough to tip the balance for sensible folks to stick around.
Laura Minor has to be one of the most tolerant people on the planet, if you ask me.
It would appear that Elbert Huckaby is not the only hateful bigot in town. After reading this thread, I'm very disheartened and very concerned.
Anonymous said...
Still in love with your adopted town now, Bob? You should have looked beyond the housing prices.
November 14, 2007 11:16 PM
Sure.....why not?
My family did not seek out Bristol purely for the housing prices. MANY other factors played into the purchase of our home. The top reason was not the price of housing stock.
Since arriving in town, I am proud to say that my family and I have met and become friends with many wonderful people. We've also become actively involved in our neighborhood and a variety of social and civic organizations.
We do not regret moving to Bristol, regardless of the debates, or nastiness spewed by a small handfull of people....either publically at a Council meeting such as Mr. Huckaby or privately by a very small group of equally small minded people hiding behind the anonymity of the internet.
In my honest opinion, this discussion on Steve's blog, with the exception of a few choice irresponsible remarks I would never condone about the Minors has been pretty civil.
Trust me, this type of discussion, and diverse thoughts and beliefs is not limited to Bristol. These types of things occur in West Hartford, Cheshire, Avon, Farmington, etc.
To answer Anonymous poster at November 14, 2007 11:16 PM clearly...
NO I have not lost my love or desire to make Bristol a better place for my family and I live and I am still very glad we moved here in December 2005.
Huckabe sounds like a racist to me !!!!
I guess that's why some of these posters like him.
God fearing people and quoters of the Bible on thisweb. You gotta be kidding. They sound more like sore losers and hate mongers to me .
It's amazing that you can't say anything contrary to the pro-gay agenda without being labeled a bigot. Go help us.
"Your tax money going to fight AIDS? Poor you"
No poor people with cancer, Crones, Lupus etc etc who have to take a place in line behind people who have sex with men, prostitutes and drug users.
To Anonymous Poster at 9:09am
Should you segregate our tax dollars from the people that develop lung cancer because they smoke?
Should you segregate our tax dollars from the people that develop liver cancer because they drink to excess?
How about the people with Crones that don't follow their doctor's advise and make their situation worse? Should you segregate our tax dollars from them?
How about the Man or Woman, who think they are in a monogamous relationship, but contract HIV and develop AIDS because their spouse has been unfaithful? Should you segregate our tax dollars from them?
How about the person who contracted HIV and developed AIDS due to a blood transfusion? Should you segregate our tax dollars from them?
How about the person who drives too fast and mangles themselves till they are disabled and require the services of the welfare system. Should you segregate our tax dollars from them?
Deuteronomy
Chapter 21
18. If a man have a stubborn and rebellious son, which will not obey the voice of his father, or the voice of his mother, and that, when they have chastened him, will not hearken unto them:
19. Then shall his father and his mother lay hold on him, and bring him out unto the elders of his city, and unto the gate of his place;
20. And they shall say unto the elders of his city, This our son is stubborn and rebellious, he will not obey our voice; he is a glutton, and a drunkard.
21. And all the men of his city shall stone him with stones, that he die: so shalt thou put evil away from among you; and all Israel shall hear, and fear.
For all of you that are asking that a police officer attend the council meetings, please keep in mind that the Chief of Police is always at the council meetings as he, and all department heads are mandated to be.
"November 14, 2007 10:07 PM
Baloney! There's no scripture that tells universally that a rude kid should be killed."
But in fact there is, Deuteronomy 21:21. You and Huckaby are textbook examples of the self-righteous: your hatred of people different from you comes from inside yourself, not from scripture.
Since the police department has become so politically involved in recent years, I don't like the idea of an armed police officer (besides the police chief) standing by while the public speaks at the council, standing by as intimidator. I'm sure it would be a pro-Ward police officer, and people would be more hesitant to legitimately criticze the mayor under those circumstances.
Deuteronomy is a list of special rules told to the Israelites (who were wandering the desert at the time) recitred by Moses.
Leviticus is a book on priestly-ness and cleanliness
Paul was an apostle of Jesus in the New Testament.
Please do more research Mr Gay-rights before you compare apples and oranges.
can we then agree that being drunken, un-ruley and a homosexual should be forbidden?
re: Elbert Huckaby
Does anyone really care what this individual has to say?
He acted unprofessionally and was put in his place.
End of story!
Why are you people debating scriptures?
This guy had no business spewing his hatred at a City Council meeting. His proclamation of this being a Christian society was just as wrong as his condeming Craig Minor for not supporting a manger scene on City Hall's front lawn.
Huckaby is a hypocrite.
1. Good. Now the chief has something worthwhile to do. He can police the council meetings. It's nice to have gainful employment. He can keep all the rowdy councilors from going nuts.
2. All you hateful Bible thumping morons should just go home and play with your oranges and leave us apples alone.
3. Bob, if you haven't figured out yet that Bristol is an anti-gay, bigoted backwater, maybe you never will. Perhaps, though, you are just a bear who is a little slow of thinking and it will eventually dawn on you. Then, like other sane folks, you will want to run away screaming. And I will try not to say, "I told ya so."
Signed, My screaming subsided when I moved the hell out of town
Rowdy councilors? I guess you and I have been at two separate council meetings. It's the crowd that has gotten out of control not the council. Let's put the blame where it lies. A precedence has been set that needs to be squashed immediately! As others have said ... you can speak your mind without being rude and personal and Mr. Huckaby is a hypocrite. He says Jesus is his Lord and Savior and he follows the word of Jesus but not once did Jesus threaten or belittle or attack another human being verbally or physically. You can't have it both ways, Mr. Huckaby!
To Anonymous November 15, 2007 10:29 PM
CARE TO TELL US WHERE YOU MOVED TO?
That should be an interesting side note to your rant and raves.....
November 15, 2007 10:29 PM poster:
Good Riddance!!!!!
AMEN!
and NOT in a religious sense!
Run Elbert, RUN!
I am a student of politics and public administration, but I will never consider public office so long as the political arena is so densely littered with empty religious rhetoric and pseudo-moralistic finger-pointing. Aren't there criminals to apprehend, roads to pave, buildings to build? What does sexuality have to do with local government? It's just a forum for these deranged extremists to pound on their Bibles and spew their hate and filth. We all know that one quarter of our society would like to tear another quarter of society apart... so why don't you all go kill each other in the woods and let the sane half of society conduct their affairs with some semblance of dignity and intelligence. I'm thoroughly embarassed to know I live in a city with clowns like this frequenting the political landscape.
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